November 20th, 2025
Paws Up! For the Senate’s introduction of the O.C.T.O.P.U.S. Act to ban octopus farming across the nation.
This summer, our nation’s leaders were given the chance to make legislative history! This exciting opportunity comes in the form of S.1947, also known as the “Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies Act of 2025” or the “OCTOPUS Act of 2025”. This bill was re-introduced to Congress in 2025 by Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sheldon White House of Rhode Island, bi-partisan leaders of the Senate Ocean Caucus. If passed into law, the OCTOPUS Act of 2025 would establish a federal ban on commercial octopus farming, and would be the very first ban of its kind in any country.
There is no mystery to the reason that these ocean advocates would take such a strong proactive stance against octopus farming; Octopi rank among the top three most intelligent animals found in the ocean, and among all invertebrates. According to the Ocean Conservancy, these amazing cephalopods can use problem solving skills, recognize individuals over time, and have unique personalities. At NHES, we believe every animal deserves to live a life free from the confines of a commercial farming facility, regardless of how we humans are able to outwardly see their sentience. However, to have the knowledge of octopi’s intelligence and to still choose to subject them to the stress and suffering of such a life seems especially cruel.
The OCTOPUS Act of 2025 seeks to:
- Ban any importing of octopi sourced from commercial farms, with fines for any violation
- Ban the operation of octopus aquaculture facilities in United States territories and waters
- Request certification and data collection regarding the methods in which importers are operating
In his 2024 press release to the public, Senator Whitehouse expressed his intentions that the “OCTOPUS Act would proactively protect octopuses from inhumane farming conditions and reestablish the U.S. as a global leader in animal welfare and environmental protections“. The bill stagnated after being read twice by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the same group considering the bill now. As other countries such as Chile and Spain consider their own commercial octopus farming bans in 2025, it is vital that animal advocates like us do not allow this legislation to be pushed off to yet another year. Let’s use our voices on behalf of our eight-armed friend the octopus and stand up for their right to a life of freedom in the ocean where they belong.
Take Action: Contact Your Senators to Show Support for the O.C.T.O.P.U.S Act of 2025!
Image Credits to: edmondlafoto and Dani Grau from Pixabay