CA Lawmakers Focus Attention On….Octopus

The California Legislature has passed a bill to prohibit octopus farming on land or water, and ban the import of farmed octopuses in California.

The bill goes to Governor Gavin Newsom who can either sign it or veto it, by September 30th 2024.

The Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act, A.B. 3162, would prohibit octopus aquaculture in California, as well as banning the importation of farmed octopuses into the state.

Why is this legislation being pushed?

The Animal Legal Defense Fund, say an octopus  has significant cognitive ability, can learn a variety of skills,  navigate complex mazes, and can even use tools.  An Octopus has 8 arms if you want to call them that, each arm has 280 suction cups.

You can find octopus on the menu at fine restaurants around California including several in the Coachella Valley.

Close-up photo of an octopus underwater in the ocean.   Photo from Alpha Media Portland OR