THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
133
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
Requesting the department of land and natural resources, in consultation with the department of agriculture and biosecurity, to adopt rules to prohibit commercial octopus aquaculture.
WHEREAS, efforts are underway in other regions to develop and scale commercial octopus aquaculture, underscoring the importance of proactivity considering the potential impacts of such an industry on Hawaii's coastal ecosystems and implications for animal welfare; and
WHEREAS, the development of a commercial octopus aquaculture industry, including land-based recirculating aquaculture systems and open-circuit systems, would place additional pressure on the State's finite land and coastal resources through intensive coastal development, high energy demands, large seawater withdraw and discharges, and the generation of nutrient-rich waste and animal carcasses, with implications for water quality, marine ecosystem health, and the State's limited landfill and waste management capacity; and
WHEREAS, pathogen spillover, pollution, and the escape of non-native species associated with octopus aquaculture could disrupt nearshore marine ecosystems, harming recreational and subsistence fishers who harvest octopus for food, as well as commercial fisheries dependent on healthy reef systems; and
WHEREAS, octopus aquaculture would require large and consistent inputs of animal-based feed, typically derived from wild-caught fish and marine invertebrates, increasing pressure on forage fisheries and marine food webs essential to the State's nearshore ecosystems, local fisheries, and food security; and
WHEREAS, the cultural significance of the octopus in Native Hawaiian traditions as a valued food source, a symbol of intelligence and adaptability in stories, and an integral part of traditional fishing and gathering practices, and therefore recognizes a responsibility to safeguard the long-term health and abundance of native octopus populations; and
WHEREAS, octopus aquaculture raises serious animal welfare concerns, as octopus are highly intelligent and solitary animals with complex behavioral needs that veterinarians, scientists, and animal welfare experts have identified as fundamentally at odds with intensive confinement; and
WHEREAS, there are no validated, commercially scalable humane handling and slaughter methods for octopuses, potentially resulting in chronic stress, aggression, cannibalism, and compromised well-being; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, is requested to adopt rules prohibiting the commercial aquaculture of any species of octopus, notwithstanding the continued issuance of special activity permits for non-commercial activities such as research and education that may involve native species of octopus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources and Chairperson of the Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity.
OFFERED BY:
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Report Title:
DLNR; DAB; Commercial Octopus Aquaculture; Environmental Protection