It is Now Unlawful to Farm Octopus in California — This is Why

It is formally unlawful to farm octopus within the state of California. 

On Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the bipartisan invoice (which had zero opponents) that criminalizes the farming of octopuses for human consumption, based mostly on the concepts that the aquatic animals are “extremely smart,” have “long-term reminiscence,” and have “have a well-developed nervous system.”

And, because the Los Angeles Occasions importantly famous, the invoice additionally bans enterprise house owners and operators from “knowingly taking part” within the sale of an octopus that has particularly been raised to be eaten by people. 

“Octopuses are extremely smart, curious, problem-solving animals. They’re aware, sentient beings that exhibit cognitive and behavioral complexity and are able to experiencing ache, stress, and worry, in addition to pleasure, equanimity, and social bonds,” the invoice’s textual content reads partly. It provides, “Octopuses have a well-developed nervous system, massive brains relative to their physique measurement, and a excessive degree of problem-solving potential. They’re identified for his or her potential to study, use instruments, and exhibit behaviors that recommend a degree of consciousness. Octopuses additionally show flexibility of their responses to totally different conditions, which is indicative of cognitive complexity.”

The invoice additionally pointed to a 2021 examine that confirmed that the animals additionally show aggression towards each other in confinement and the truth that the octopuses are carnivores, “requiring aquatic animal protein of their diets. Thus, farming them will additional deplete fish shares.”

The brand new ban might even have a significant ripple impact for the remainder of the nation, as California has now turn out to be the second state to ban octopus farming, following Washington state’s instance. In keeping with the Los Angeles Occasions, the same regulation is working its method by means of the system now in Hawaii. 

“Octopuses are among the many most clever, advanced life on Earth. Farming them isn’t solely inhumane however poses important environmental dangers,” Assemblymember Laura Friedman, who sponsored the invoice, shared after the invoice’s passing, in line with NBC. “Somewhat than turning to unproven ‘farming’ strategies to lift and slaughter octopuses, we needs to be defending our marine ecosystem to higher allow marine species to rebound.”  

There may be one necessary caveat that NBC famous: Presently, there aren’t any large-scale octopus farms within the state. Nevertheless, this invoice goals to be a proactive step in guaranteeing there can be none sooner or later. 

“Bipartisan help to ban industrial octopus farming in California underlines the state’s unified opposition to permitting the exploitive observe of manufacturing facility farming to increase to a different inhabitants of weak animals,” Jennifer Hauge, the senior legislative affairs supervisor of the Animal Authorized Protection Fund, shared in an announcement. “We’re happy to see the invoice signed into regulation and can proceed to advocate for comparable statewide and federal laws to guard these focused animals.” 

The invoice does nonetheless depart room to fish octopus with a allow in state waters.