New York State just made history in the fight against industrial octopus farming.
In the early morning hours of June 5th, the New York State Assembly passed A.8043C — legislation to ban octopus farming in New York — by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 129-13. This came just hours after the New York State Senate passed companion bill S.7421B with a vote of 55-5. The New York octopus farming ban now heads to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk for her signature.
This is a victory 3 years in the making. And it belongs to every single person who called their legislator, signed a petition, shared a post, or showed up for octopuses.
Why New York Moved to Ban Octopus Farming
Industrial octopus farming is an emerging industry and a deeply troubling one. Octopuses are extraordinarily intelligent animals. They solve puzzles, recognize individual humans, use tools, and display distinct personalities. Scientists have long documented their capacity for suffering, and in 2021, the UK formally recognized them as sentient beings under the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act. The 2024 New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness affirmed what advocates have known for years: octopuses are conscious, feeling animals who deserve protection.
Confining these animals (or any animal) in industrial aquaculture systems isn’t just cruel. It’s an ecological threat. Octopus farms discharge pollutants into surrounding marine environments, risk transmitting disease to wild populations, and require massive amounts of wild-caught fish just to feed the farmed animals, putting additional pressure on already strained marine ecosystems.
There are no octopus farms in New York right now. This legislation ensures there never will be.
What New York’s Octopus Farming Ban Does
If signed by Governor Hochul, New York’s octopus farming ban will:
- Prohibit the aquaculture of any species of octopus for human consumption in New York State
- Impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 per day per violation, enforced by the Department of Environmental Conservation
New York Becomes a National Leader on Octopus Protection
Washington state became the first jurisdiction in the world to ban octopus farming in 2024, followed by California later that year. With this vote, New York is now poised to become the first state on the East Coast to prohibit the practice and the legislature’s vote makes clear that this is broad, bipartisan consensus: New Yorkers don’t want industrial octopus farming here.
What Comes Next for New York’s Octopus Farming Ban
The bill needs to be called to Governor Hochul’s desk. Once she calls it up, Governor Hochul will have ten days to sign it, and her signature will make the octopus farming ban the law of the land in New York State. She has until the end of 2026 to make it happen.
Stay tuned. We’ll be sharing exactly how you can help make that happen. And in the meantime: today, we celebrate. For the octopuses.
Victories like this one don’t happen without you.
VFAR is a small, scrappy, volunteer-led organization and we punch well above our weight because of the people who support us. If you believe in fighting for animals through legislation and the democratic process, please consider making a donation today. Every dollar goes directly toward the campaigns that are changing New York law for animals.
Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR) is a New York-based 501(c)(4) electoral and advocacy organization fighting to protect animals through legislation and the democratic process.