Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan bill Friday makes it a crime to farm squid for human consumption in California.
The new law makes it illegal to breed and raise squid in state waters or in aquaculture tanks based on land within the state. It also prevents entrepreneurs and operators from knowingly participating in the sale of an octopus – regardless of provenance – that has been raised for human consumption.
The law text recognizes that octopuses are “highly intelligent, curious, problem-solving animals” that are aware, sentient, and experience “pain, stress, and fear, as well as pleasure, equanimity, and social bonding.” It 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 individual humans.
IN an experimenteight 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 hand, which they gave to the octopuses. The other carried a bristle stick, with which they used to scratch the delicate skin of the octopuses.
At the end of two weeks, the octopuses’ responses to the two people were significantly different. As the stick bearer approached, the animals moved away and set their water jets at the offender so that they could make a quick escape if necessary. But when the feeder came calling, they went to the side of the tank and turned their jets away.
Proponents of the new law said it positions California as a leader in humane aquaculture. They point to one growing body of research which shows that raising octopuses for food is cruel, inefficient and harmful to the environment.
California is now the second state – after Washington – to ban squid farming. Similar legislation has also been introduced in the US Senate and in Hawaii.
“We know that what happens in California has an impact on what happens federally,” JEnnifer Jacqueta professor of environmental science and policy at the University of Miami, said as the bill cleared the Legislature. “Americans want to keep octopuses wild.”