This bill would ban commercial octopus aquaculture in U.S. waters and the U.S. exclusive economic zone. It directs the Secretary of Commerce to not issue permits or otherwise authorize farming octopus for sale, to coordinate with the Secretary of the Interior, and to issue a final rule within one year to prohibit those operations. The bill would also ban the importation and reexport of commercially aquacultured octopus (live or dead, parts, derivatives, or products containing them) for articles entered or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption one year after enactment. Importers would have to certify at the time of import that the octopus is not commercially aquacultured. Violations of the import/reexport ban carry a civil penalty up to $100,000 per violation or the fair market value of the octopus, whichever is greater. Exceptions are provided for accredited or licensed aquariums or zoos (for public display, breeding, or certain research) and for specified noncommercial scientific research by accredited entities or permit holders. The bill also requires NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service trade programs to require reporting of harvest methods for octopus imports.
No publicly available information on government cost estimates or economic effects is included in the bill text. The bill does specifies a civil penalty for violations: up to $100,000 per violation or the fair market value of the octopus, whichever is greater.
No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about proponents' stated reasons or arguments.
No publicly available information in the bill text or metadata about opponents' stated reasons or arguments.