New York Becomes Ninth U.S. Jurisdiction to Introduce Octopus Farming Ban

Albany, NY - Animal Rights Initiative (ARI) is proud to announce the introduction of New York Senate Bill S7421, a bill to prohibit commercial octopus farming. The bill, sponsored by Senator Monica Martinez, follows months of coordinated research led by ARI and advocacy managed by Voters for Animal Rights (VFAR), with contributions from Woodstock Farm Sanctuary, Mercy for Animals, and other organizations dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. Together, the coalition seeks to ensure that New York sets a clear precedent: cruel and ecologically reckless practices have no place in a state committed to sustainability and a biosecure future.

The legislative journey began in March 2024 when Amanda Fox, Executive Director of ARI, and Rachel McCrystal of Woodstock Farm Sanctuary identified the urgent need for legislative action in New York in response to the growing global interest in octopus aquaculture and collectively agreed on pursuit. With localized research contributions from our New York based researcher Angela Catalano, ARI developed a science-based fact sheet tailored to the state's environmental and economic vulnerabilities. The report outlined a series of critical threats posed by octopus farming including water contamination and biodiversity loss to increased harmful algal blooms (HABs). ARI research shows HABs have surged 81% across New York between 2020 and 2024.

The fact sheet and accompanying presentation were delivered to key lawmakers through meetings coordinated by VFAR. On February 1, 2025, ARI and its coalition partners received confirmation of prime sponsorship from Senator Martinez, with the bill officially introduced on April 15th the same year.

“New York’s marine ecosystems and fisheries are already under incredible stress. The introduction of intensive octopus aquaculture, an industry shown to generate excessive waste, spread parasites, rely on an unsustainable feed supply, and potential for large-scale escapes, would pose irreparable harm to coastal biodiversity,” said Amanda Fox. “We are grateful to Senator Martinez and to our partners who worked tirelessly to bring this issue forward.”

According to peer-reviewed analysis, farmed octopuses require approximately three pounds of marine animals for every one pound of octopus produced, creating an ecological deficit that undermines sustainable fisheries and marine food security (Jacquet et al., 2019, Issues in Science and Technology). The resulting nutrient-rich waste runoff significantly exacerbates the development of HABs, which in turn threaten wild fish, shellfish, and public health. 

Adding urgency to the matter is the legal gap in protections for cephalopods. Octopuses are not covered by the federal Animal Welfare Act, nor are they listed as prohibited aquaculture species in any state except Washington and California. This regulatory blind spot leaves octopuses uniquely vulnerable to industrial exploitation, despite widespread scientific recognition of their sentience and capacity for suffering.

Further, octopuses are solitary, semelparous animals who are prone to behavioral distress in captivity. Documented welfare issues in worldwide aquariums and research institutions include cannibalism, self-injury, escape attempts, and mass die-offs, exemplifying the high-risk nature and immorality of this pursuit.

By introducing S7421, New York joins Washington, California, Oregon, Connecticut, Hawai‘i, New Jersey, North Carolina and Massachusetts as the ninth U.S. jurisdiction to take a legislative stand against this emerging industry. The full bill text is available at: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S7421

Media Contact:
Amanda Fox
Executive Director, Animal Rights Initiative
Amandafox@animalrightsinitiative.org | (808) 367-5128

418 Broadway #7640

 Albany, NY 12207

www.AnimalRightsInitiative.org