Welcome to The Nonlinear Library, where we use Text-to-Speech software to convert the best writing from the Rationalist and EA communities into audio. This is: We Did It! - Victory for Octopus in Washington State, published by Tessa @ ALI on March 15, 2024 on The Effective Altruism Forum.
In 2022, Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) led the charge in Banding Together to Ban Octopus Farming. In 2024, we are ecstatic to see these efforts come to fruition in Washington State.
This landmark achievement underscores our collective commitment to rejecting the introduction of additional animals into the seafood system and positions Washington State as a true pioneer in aquatic animal welfare legislation. In light of this success, ALI is joining forces with various organizations to advocate for similar bans across the United States and utilizing these monumental examples as leverage in continuous European endeavors.
2022
Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) and members of the Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA) comment on the Environmental Impact of Nueva Pescanova before the Government of the Canary Islands: General Directorate of Fisheries and the General Directorate for the Fight against Climate Change and the Environment.
Allowing this industrial octopus farm to operate could result in serious bio security and biophysical risks with regard to effluents being produced from this facility and discharged to surrounding waterways. There were many issues associated with the information provided by Nueva Pescanova as it relates to the environmental impacts of the proposed project, which we addressed in detail.
Through the launch of Aquatic Life Institute's Octopus Farming Ban Campaign, we exposed the dangers of
Nueva Pescanova's commercial octopus farm in Gran Canaria, as well as an octopus farm in
Yucatan, Mexico, masquerading as a research facility (Hiding in Plain Sight).
2023
If permitted to operate,
just one farm could potentially produce 1 million octopuses each year. In an attempt to dissuade future development of this unsustainable and cruel farming endeavor, ALI pushed initiatives via our seafood certification campaign and focused on the certified marketability of this potential seafood "product" through the Aquaculture Certification Schemes Animal Welfare Benchmark.
ALI expanded on our prior concerns related to impacts on animal welfare, the environment, and public health being priority points of intervention during conversations with seafood certification schemes as a premise for prohibition. As a result,
RSPCA published a statement denouncing plans for the world's first octopus farm and Friend of the Sea provided us with a direct quotation explicitly stating they will not certify this species. If global seafood certifications refuse to create a "price premium" market for this product, perhaps this could serve as an indication to producers and investors that such products will not be welcomed or worth it.
These demonstrations of opposition are a testament to our attempts at rejecting a dangerous development before it is an industrial disaster and translates to the prevention of unnecessary suffering for millions of animals.
Through collaborative efforts with members of the Aquatic Animal Alliance (AAA) and the Aquatic Animal Policy focus group (AAP), spearheaded by the Aquatic Life Institute, we actively advocated for HB 1153 in Washington State. Several ALI team members were present during the public hearing for the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to vote on HB 1153 - Prohibiting Octopus Farming and submitted subsequent written testimony in support.
Our extensive communications with decision makers contributed to a series of successful milestones, ultimately resulting in its enactment into law.
2024
February proved to be a fast and furious month as we witnessed history being made:
February 6, 2024: HB 1153 is pulled and passes the House Floor.
February 14, 2024: ALI wrote to all Washington's Senate Senators of the Agriculture,...

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