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.

SR125

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

125

THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026

STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE 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
.

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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

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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, 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

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BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this 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:

_____________________________

Report Title:
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DLNR;
DAB; Commercial Octopus Aquaculture; Environmental Protection