US Senate introduces bill to ban octopus aquaculture

US Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have introduced a bipartisan bill to prohibit commercial octopus farming and related imports. The "Opposing the Cultivation and Trade of Octopus Produced through Unethical Strategies Act of 2024" (OCTOPUS Act) aims to prevent commercial octopus aquaculture in the US and its exclusive economic zone, banning imports and re-exports of farmed octopus products. This legislation follows similar state-level bills and highlights ethical, environmental, and public health concerns. The Aquatic Life Institute supports the bill, emphasisng the intelligence and charismatic nature of octopuses and advocating for sustainable food choices. (The Fish Site)