Federal Bill to Ban Commercial Octopus Farming and Imports Introduced in U.S.

By Livia Schonenberg @ 2024-07-25T20:29 (+5)

We are thrilled to share groundbreaking news in our Octopus Farming Ban Campaign. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced a federal bill to ban the commercial farming of octopuses, as well as the importation and sale of commercially farmed octopus. This legislation, known as the “Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies Act of 2024” or the “OCTOPUS Act of 2024,” aims to prevent the rise of octopus aquaculture in the United States, and will position the country as a global leader in animal welfare and environmental protection.

What the Bill Entails

The bill, referred to as “Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies Act of 2024” or the “OCTOPUS Act of 2024,” prohibits:

Any authorization of commercial octopus aquaculture operations in the United States and its exclusive economic zone

The importation into the United States - or the re-exportation - of commercially aquacultured octopus, including any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives of such octopus

The bill also requires:

Importers to certify that they are not importing farmed octopus

NOAA to collect data on octopus harvest methods in trade programs under its jurisdiction

In a press release, Senator Whitehouse emphasizes the importance of this bill, stating “Octopuses are among the most intelligent creatures in the oceans. They belong at sea, not suffering on a factory farm. Our bipartisan bill with Senator Murkowski preemptively prevents U.S. companies from engaging in this brutal practice before it takes root.”

Why This Matters

The implications of octopus farming are manifold:

Environmental Impact: Carnivorous octopuses require diets rich in marine ingredients, increasing pressure on declining wild fish populations and undermining global sustainability goals.

Public Health Risks: The overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture can lead to multidrug-resistant bacteria, posing potential risks to human health.

Animal Welfare: Octopuses, known for their intelligence and complex behaviors, suffer greatly in captivity. Intensive farming conditions lead to stress, aggression, and unnatural behaviors such as cannibalism. Currently, there are no approved humane slaughter methods for octopuses.

Legislative Momentum

This federal bill builds on the momentum of several state-level initiatives, including Washington State's HB 1153, signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in March, and similar efforts in Hawaii (Bill HB 2262) and California (A.B. 3162). These legislative advances are the result of advocacy by numerous organizations, including Aquatic Life Institute (ALI), Animal Legal Defense Fund, and Animal Welfare Institute.

Next Steps

Through our global campaign and partnerships with over 145 organizations in the Aquatic Animal Alliance and over 50 members in the Aquatic Animal Policy (AAP) focus group, we continue to push for regulatory bans on octopus farming and advocate for high-welfare practices in seafood production. Our work with global seafood certification schemes has already led to commitments prohibiting the certification of octopus farming from RSPCA and Friend of the Sea. 

Help us spread the word and celebrate this major step towards a more ethical and sustainable future.

See Senator Whitehouse’s official press release mentioning various advocacy organizations, including Aquatic Life Institute.