US: California bans octopus farming, citing animal welfare and environmental concerns

California became the second state to ban octopus farming, following a similar law passed in Washington in March 2024. The new law, Section 15007.5, added to the Fish and Game Code, also prohibits business owners from selling, possessing, or transporting any species of octopus raised in an aquaculture facility. The law highlights the unique cognitive and emotional abilities of octopuses, recognizing them as intelligent creatures capable of problem-solving, learning, and even recognizing individual humans. The decision is based on academic research, including a 2021 report from the London School of Economics that found the detrimental effects of confinement on these naturally solitary animals. The bill also raises environmental concerns, pointing to the potential for depletion of fish stocks due to octopuses’ carnivorous diet and waste generated by farming operations. The Washington ban follows the introduction of the Unethical Octopus Farming and Trade Prevention Act by U.S. ...