Aquaculture is the culture or farming of fish, shellfish, and other aquatic plants and animals in fresh or salt water areas.  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, Health, 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 a person may not participate in octopus aquaculture in Washington.

PRO:  While currently there are no octopus farms in Washington, we should make a statement and not allow it to protect Washington waters. Octopus are sentient beings and solitary creatures that should not be caged.  Octopus are carnivores and require a significant amount of food, which could disrupt ecosystem balance.   Washington should prevent a repeat of the environmental issues created by the Atlantic salmon net pen collapse and protect our ecosystem.  Octopus are intended for the luxury market for high end consumers.