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Scientists, veterinarians and conservationists urge ban on octopus farming in Massachusetts
Summary
More than a dozen researchers, veterinarians, students and conservation groups urged the committee to support H.127 to prohibit aquaculture of octopus for human consumption, citing animal welfare, disease, environmental pollution, feed‑fish demand and escape risks.
A broad coalition of scientists, veterinarians, students, conservationists and coastal fishing advocates urged the Joint Committee on Agriculture to report H.127 favorably and prohibit commercial octopus aquaculture in Massachusetts.
Representative Chris Hendricks, sponsor of the bill, summarized scientific concerns in opening testimony: "Octopus have the most neurologically complex systems known to science," he said, and argued that raising them at commercial scale in confined tanks would be incompatible with their cognitive and behavioral needs.
Researc…
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