Committee advances bill banning octopus farming, supporters cite welfare and ecological risks

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems voted to advance HB 365, a measure that would prohibit octopus aquaculture in state waters and on state lands.

Testimony in support came from conservation groups, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, local fishermen and community advocates who argued that octopus farming poses animal-welfare and ecosystem risks. Lindsay Verheilig of the Animal Legal Defense Fund said no octopus farms currently exist in Hawaii, and that “this legislation would have no financial impact on existing businesses” but would protect fisheries and prevent ecological harm if farms were proposed.

Supporters said octopus are cognitively complex animals incompatible with intensive confinement and that farming them would require large amounts of wild-caught feed. Amanda Fox, testifying via Zoom, warned that octopus farms would divert millions of pounds of crustaceans and fish to feed operations and create large waste streams that could promote harmful algal blooms.

Student and community witnesses described cultural and subsistence concerns: a Windward Community College student said octopus hunting is a traditional practice and opposed foreign-owned industrial farms that could threaten wild octopus populations and local fisher livelihoods.

Opponents or commenters were limited; the committee summary recorded multiple supporters and a smaller number of opposition and comment testimonies. The bill was advanced with technical amendments for clarity, consistency and style.

The committee record notes that the prohibition would not affect sale of wild-caught octopus or octopus kept for research or education; testimony emphasized the bill’s targeted scope.