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California is poised to become the second state to ban octopus farming, but we have to help the Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses Act pass the Senate in order for that to happen.

Other organizations including Social Compassion in Legislation and Animal Legal Defense Fund have been working tirelessly on this effort, and their work has been critical in helping the bill pass the Assembly in April. Reach out to your senator today to ask that they support this crucial bill to prevent cruelty to octopuses in the state!

Octopuses are intelligent, sentient beings who are naturally curious and would suffer from a lack of stimulation in a large-scale farm setting. They are known to be able to solve complex puzzles, escape from their enclosures, and throw things at one another! Their ability to disguise themselves and manipulate their cells to perfectly match their backgrounds shows an acute awareness of their surroundings.

Octopus farming is not only harmful to individual octopuses but has the potential to be detrimental to the environment and human health. Octopuses are known to carry over 20 different pathologies, including vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera in humans.

Octopus farming could have negative impacts on wild fish populations. Nitrogen and phosphorus from farming octopuses would contribute to environmental pollution and declining biodiversity. Additionally, octopuses are carnivores, and most of the fish suitable for them to eat are also consumed by humans, which will further deplete wild fish populations.

Help prevent octopus farming in California to save octopus lives and protect the environment and other animals who call this place home!

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Please Support AB 3162, the OCTO Act

I am writing to you as one of your constituents asking that you please support the Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act (AB 3162). Octopus farming would not only be harmful to individual octopuses, but would be detrimental to human health and the environment as well.

Octopuses are intelligent and curious sentient beings who would suffer from a lack of stimulation in a large-scale farm setting. They are known to be able to solve complex puzzles, and stories of enclosure escapes at zoos and research facilities abound. Octopuses even throw things at one another, as recent scientific observations have revealed. Their ability to disguise themselves and manipulate their cells to perfectly match their backgrounds shows an acute awareness of their surroundings.

There are also logistical reasons not to farm octopuses. Octopuses are territorial and solitary animals who would need to be kept in individual tanks. They are carnivores, making them difficult to feed. Most of the fish suitable for octopuses to eat are also consumed by humans, so farming octopuses would further contribute to unsustainable pressures on wild fish populations. 

There are health risks associated with farming octopuses as well. These animals are known to carry over 20 different pathologies, including vibrio cholerae which causes cholera in humans. At a time when the world is still recovering from COVID-19 and dealing with diseases like avian influenza, octopus farming would greatly increase the risk of spreading more zoonotic diseases among the human population.

With a growing demand for a sustainable food system, it makes no sense to add an additional farmed animal into the mix. Banning octopus farming in California before it has a chance to start will save countless octopus lives and send a vital message to the country that industrial-scale agriculture is falling out of favor. 

Thank you for your time and careful consideration of this important issue.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.