Bill > SR125

This resolution requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB), to create regulations that ban commercial octopus farming in Hawaii. The resolution highlights several concerns, including the potential negative impacts on Hawaii's coastal environments from intensive development, high energy use, and waste generation, as well as the risk of introducing diseases or invasive species that could harm local marine life and fisheries. It also points out that octopus farming would increase demand for fish used as feed, further straining marine food webs, and raises significant animal welfare issues due to the complex needs of octopuses, for which humane farming methods are not yet established. Furthermore, the resolution acknowledges the cultural importance of octopuses to Native Hawaiians and the need to protect native octopus populations.