This bill aims to prevent the establishment and proliferation of commercial octopus aquaculture. It specifically prohibits the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing any commercial octopus aquaculture operations within the United States, its exclusive economic zone, or its waters, requiring them to issue a final rule to this effect within one year. Furthermore, the legislation bans the importation and reexport of commercially aquacultured octopus, including any parts or products, with an effective date one year after enactment and a civil penalty for violations. Importers must certify that octopus products are not commercially aquacultured. Exceptions are provided for octopus used solely for public display, breeding programs, or noncommercial research by accredited aquariums, zoos, or other scientific institutions, and the bill mandates reporting of harvest methods for all octopus imports.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
OCTOPUS Act of 2025
USA119th CongressS-1947| Senate
| Updated: 6/4/2025
This bill aims to prevent the establishment and proliferation of commercial octopus aquaculture. It specifically prohibits the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior from authorizing any commercial octopus aquaculture operations within the United States, its exclusive economic zone, or its waters, requiring them to issue a final rule to this effect within one year. Furthermore, the legislation bans the importation and reexport of commercially aquacultured octopus, including any parts or products, with an effective date one year after enactment and a civil penalty for violations. Importers must certify that octopus products are not commercially aquacultured. Exceptions are provided for octopus used solely for public display, breeding programs, or noncommercial research by accredited aquariums, zoos, or other scientific institutions, and the bill mandates reporting of harvest methods for all octopus imports.