Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan bill Friday making it a crime to raise octopus for human consumption in California.
The new law prohibits the raising and breeding of octopuses in state waters or in aquaculture ponds located on lands within the state. It also prevents business owners and operators from knowingly participating in the sale of an octopus – regardless of its provenance – that was raised to be eaten by people.
The text of the law recognizes that octopuses are “highly intelligent, curious, problem-solving animals” that are conscious, sensitive and experience “pain, stress and fear, as well as pleasure, serenity and social connections.” He goes on to note that in research studies, these eight-legged marine invertebrates have demonstrated long-term memory as well as the ability to recognize individuals.
In one experiment, eight giant Pacific octopuses were introduced to two people over a two-week period at the Seattle Aquarium. One of them always approached with food in his hand, which he gave to the octopuses. The other carried a bristling stick with which they scratched the sensitive skin of the cephalopods.
After two weeks, the octopuses’ responses to the two people were very different. When the stick-wielder approached, the animals moved away and aligned their streams of water towards the offender so that he could quickly flee if necessary. But when the tanker arrived, they approached the side of the tank and diverted their jets.
Supporters of the new law said it positions California as a leader in humane aquaculture. They point to a growing body of research that shows raising octopuses for food is cruel, inefficient and environmentally damaging.
California is now the second state, after Washington, to ban octopus farming. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate and in Hawaii.
“We know that what happens in California impacts what happens at the federal level,” said Jennifer Jacquet, a professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, when the bill was approved by the legislator. “Americans want to keep octopuses wild.”
