It may soon be a crime in California to sell, possess or transport any species of octopus that is the result of “aquaculture,” also known as farm raised.

California lawmakers voted to send AB 3162 to Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has until the end of September to sign or veto it. Please contact him here and ask him to sign the bill.

For Friends of Animals, the fact that octopuses are having a moment because of the film My Octopus Teacher and the new National Geographic docuseries and companion book Secrets of the Octopus, written by naturalist Sy Montgomery, means that it is less socially acceptable for them to be on a menu, and that rings all our bells.

They’re not our food. They shouldn’t be captured, farmed or eaten, period. Octopus appear smarter and more emotionally complex than the people who consume them.

We support any efforts to stop the mass production of octopuses before it begins. While there are currently no large-scale octopus farms in the world, several companies and producers are looking to change that.