Rebecca Lewis (786-7339).
Aquaculture is the culture or farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic plants and animals in fresh, brackish, or salt water areas. It is not the same as commercial fishing, which is the harvesting of wild fish.
In Washington, aquaculture occurs in both fresh and marine waters such as streams, rivers, lakes, the Puget Sound, and on the coast. Commercial aquaculture activities include raising, harvesting, transporting, and selling fish and shellfish. Other aquaculture activities are designed to help restore and enhance resources. This includes fish and shellfish hatcheries and planting and growing native aquatic plants to restore or enhance habitat. Private sector cultured aquatic products in Washington include clams, oysters, prawns, trout, salmon, geoducks, and kelp, among others. Commercial net-pen aquaculture of nonnative finfish, including Atlantic salmon, has been prohibited in Washington.
Aquaculture is regulated by the departments of Ecology, Fish and Wildlife and Natural Resources, as well as local and tribal governments, and other state and federal agencies.
The definition of "private sector cultured aquatic products" does not include octopus, and octopus aquaculture is prohibited in Washington.
(In support) This act protects animal and environmental welfare. Multiple studies support the finding that octopus are smart sentient creatures who feel emotion and pain. Octopus are recognized as sentient under law in the United Kingdom. Other studies have found that high welfare farming is impossible for octopus because of their intelligence and need for solitary enclosures. Octopus farming would be harmful to their welfare. Another important reason for this act is to prevent a repeat of the environmental issues created by the Atlantic salmon net pen collapse which created pollution that was detrimental to the environment.
(Opposed) None.