Federal Bill to Ban Octopus Farming and Commercial Imports Reintroduced, Momentum Grows

The bill is poised to become the first country-wide law that will ban commercial octopus aquaculture operations and sales

Washington, D.C. — A federal bill to prevent the commercial farming of octopuses, as well as the importation and sale of commercially farmed octopuses, has been reintroduced by U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK). The bipartisan legislation was originally introduced in 2024 and is being brought forward again now due to continued momentum at the federal level for the bill to become law. It is preceded by the introduction of similar legislation in various U.S. states, including formal laws in California and Washington. Aquatic Life Institute, which played a central role in supporting each of the legislations, believes that the introduction of this federal bill signifies a watershed moment in protecting against the environmental, ethical, and public health challenges associated with octopus farming.

The bill, referred to as “Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies Act of 2025” or the “OCTOPUS Act of 2025,” prohibits any authorization of commercial octopus aquaculture operations in the United States and its exclusive economic zone. The bill also prohibits the importation into the United States – or the re-exportation – of commercially aquacultured octopus, including any living or dead specimens, parts, or derivatives, or any product containing specimens, parts, or derivatives of such octopus.

“Aquatic Life Institute, along with many aligned organizations from around the world, applaud Senators Whitehouse and Murkowski for their determination in the reintroduction of the OCTOPUS Act. By establishing future-proof, progressive policies before unnecessary harms are created by octopus farming, the U.S. is signifying its commitment to leadership in animal welfare, environmental protection, and public health,” said Sophika Kostyniuk, Managing Director of Aquatic Life Institute.

If enacted, the OCTOPUS Act would safeguard octopuses from inhumane farming practices and position the U.S. as a global frontrunner in animal welfare and environmental protection.

“Octopus are smart, sentient creatures that have no business cooped up on commercial farms,” said Whitehouse in a press release.  “I’m glad to reintroduce this bill with Senator Murkowski to ban this practice and keep octopus wild in our oceans.  Congress should heed the call of over 100 leading ocean scientists from around the world and quickly pass our bill.”

This bill as well as other recent legislative progress follows the advocacy efforts of several NGOs, including Aquatic Life Institute (ALI), Animal Legal Defense Fund, and more. ALI has actively supported this bill via conversations with Senator Whitehouse’s office and by sending the scientific material essential to craft the bill in an evidence-based manner.

“Science has shown that octopuses are sentient, emotionally complex animals, and the conditions required to farm them—crowded tanks and lack of stimulation–are inherently cruel and incompatible with their basic needs,” said Animal Legal Defense Fund Legislative Affairs Manager Allison Ludtke. “The OCTOPUS Act is a landmark step toward protecting some of the ocean’s most charismatic and intelligent creatures from commercial exploitation and stopping a cruel, unsustainable industry that would also put marine ecosystems at risk. The Animal Legal Defense Fund applauds Sen. Whitehouse and Sen. Murkowski for their foresight in working to prevent this industry from taking hold in the U.S.”

The environmental, welfare, and public health implications of octopus farming are manifold. These carnivorous animals require diets rich in marine ingredients, exacerbating the pressure on already declining wild fish populations and undermining global sustainable development goals. The overuse of antibiotics in aquaculture has been linked to the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, with potential spillover effects into human populations. As widely documented, octopuses are highly intelligent and complex animals that suffer greatly in captivity due to their solitary and inquisitive nature. Several scientists have raised significant concerns about the practice of octopus farming, as conditions of intensive farming and extreme confinement are inherently unsuitable for their well-being, leading to stress, aggression, and unnatural behaviors such as cannibalism.  Furthermore, there are no approved humane slaughter methods for these animals. For additional research and information, please refer to ALI’s campaign page.

This significant legislation amplifies the message that the time to act, and the time to protect our environment, is now.  As noted, the federal bill is preceded by related proposed legislative initiatives in several states, including New Jersey Assembly Bill A5078, Connecticut House Bill 5900, Hawaii House Bill 365, Oregon House Bill 2557, North Carolina House Bill 293, and Massachusetts House Bill 127, in addition to the laws in California and Washington.

In addition, ALI has worked with RSPCA, Friend of the Sea, and other seafood certifiers have produced statements prohibiting the certification of any form of octopus/cephalopod farming. These certifiers have recognized the necessity of banning octopus farming before it starts, acknowledging that it is impossible to guarantee high welfare conditions for this species due to its behavioral needs, sentience, and strictly carnivorous diet. 

About Aquatic Life Institute

Aquatic Life Institute is an international non-profit organization that works on advancing aquatic animal welfare in both aquaculture and wild capture fisheries globally. The organization works with certifiers, nonprofits, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, governments, and the public to improve welfare of aquatic animals.