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 Instances importantly famous, the invoice additionally bans enterprise homeowners 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 concern, in addition to pleasure, equanimity, and social bonds,” the invoice’s textual content reads partially. It provides, “Octopuses have a well-developed nervous system, massive brains relative to their physique dimension, and a excessive stage of problem-solving means. They’re recognized for his or her means to study, use instruments, and exhibit behaviors that recommend a stage 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 may even have a significant ripple impact for the remainder of the nation, as California has now turn into the second state to ban octopus farming, following Washington state’s instance. In line with the Los Angeles Instances, an identical legislation is working its approach by way of the system now in Hawaii. 

“Octopuses are among the many most clever, complicated life on Earth. Farming them is just not solely inhumane however poses vital environmental dangers,” Assemblymember Laura Friedman, who sponsored the invoice, shared after the invoice’s passing, in keeping with NBC. “Somewhat than turning to unproven ‘farming’ strategies to boost and slaughter octopuses, we needs to be defending our marine ecosystem to raised allow marine species to rebound.”  

There’s one vital caveat that NBC famous: At the moment, there aren’t any large-scale octopus farms within the state. Nonetheless, this invoice goals to be a proactive step in making certain there will probably be none sooner or later. 

“Bipartisan assist to ban industrial octopus farming in California underlines the state’s unified opposition to permitting the exploitive apply of manufacturing facility farming to broaden 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 legislation and can proceed to advocate for related statewide and federal laws to guard these focused animals.” 

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