Senate Bill S7421A

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7421

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to octo-
pus farming

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to ban octopus farming.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds new section 13-0316-a to the environmental conservation
law to define aquaculture and octopus, prohibits the practice of aqua-
culture with any species of octopus for the purpose of human consump-
tion, and deems no business entity shall sell, possess, or transport any
species of octopus that is the result or product of aquaculture.

Section 2. Adds subdivision 7-d to section 71-0925 to the environmental
conservation law to instate a penalty of one-thousand dollars for each
              

day and each offense found pursuant to section 1 of this bill and gives
the department the authority to adopt policies for the collection of
penalties.

Section 3. Provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

The farming of octopus is a highly concerning practice quickly gaining
global momentum. Numerous environmental organizations, scientists, and
policymakers have expressed grave concern over the practice, as it poses
severe animal welfare, environmental, public health, and economic risks.
Currently there are no businesses engaged in octopus farming in New York
and this bill, modeled after the ones passed in Washington and Califor-
nia, aims to ban the practice to ensure no one can in the future.

Octopus farming raises significant environmental concerns due to new
effluents being produced and subsequently discharged into surrounding
ecosystems. Octopus are carnivores and must consume three times their
weight in other fish to survive; meaning they produce a lot of waste.
Intensive farming of other carnivorous species has led to significant
declines in related wild populations due to disease transmission, compe-
tition, genetic pollution, and other ecological factors. There is
profound concern octopus farms would cause similar impacts on already
vulnerable and declining wild populations. Octopus are also notorious
for escaping their enclosed containers. Octopus farm escapes pose a
serious risk to local habitats and animal populations with a high poten-
tial of transferring any on-farm diseases and antibiotics.

Furthermore, octopus farms could have negative effects on the liveli-
hoods of the surrounding communities. Industrial octopus farming oper-
ations could threaten traditional scale artisanal fisheries, as well as
the communities dependent on them by disrupting ecosystems and competing
for resources. This legislation will protect New York's environment,
coastal communities, animals, and public health. New York State must act
to prohibit the factory farming of octopus.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.