This is a great step towards protecting animals from the cruelties of factory farms.
California has become the second state to ban octopus farming, following Washington! Last month, Governor Newsom signed legislation into law that bans the farming of octopuses and the importation of farmed octopuses into the state for consumption.
Washington state banned octopus farming in March 2024, while California representatives introduced legislation to ban this cruelty statewide just weeks prior. World Animal Protection US is proud to have helped local activists and colleagues from other animal advocacy organizations pass this latest impactful legislation.
Lindsay Oliver, Executive Director of World Animal Protection US, said in a statement:
“Octopuses are extraordinary animals with remarkable abilities that we’re only just beginning to comprehend. The last place they belong is in factory farms or on a dinner plate. We commend Governor Newsom for taking decisive action to ban octopus farming and the import of farmed octopus in California, setting a crucial precedent for protecting these sensitive and intelligent animals.”
These bans come after Nueva Pescanova announced plans to build the first octopus farm in Spain, with the potential to slaughter 100 million animals each year. Octopuses are highly intelligent animals with the ability to feel pain. On octopus farms, octopuses are typically slaughtered by being submerged in a freezing “ice slurry,” which has been known to cause a cruelly slow, stressful, and excruciatingly painful death. Others are killed by being clubbed in the head.
Additionally, octopuses are territorial and solitary animals. In the unnatural, cramped confinement of factory farms, keeping hundreds, if not thousands, of octopuses in close proximity would lead to suffering, including conflict among individuals and even cannibalism.
World Animal Protection US will continue to fight to end factory farming, but we need your support. Right now, you can send your federal legislators a quick email to support the OCTOPUS Act, which would stop octopus farming nationwide.
We’ve made it easy to contact your legislators to pass this vital legislation. Send a quick email today to support the OCTOPUS Act, and then send it to five friends to sign, too!