Re: Request for Denial of Aquaculture Facility License to Kanaloa Octopus Farm
For the Fishes, Pono Advocacy, and Mike Nakachi, collectively represented by the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Clinic, submitted complaints to the Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR) and to the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority (NELHA), urging the two state agencies to investigate and take action against the Kanaloa Octopus Farm (KOF), a petting zoo that uses wild-caught day octopi for entertainment. The complaints allege that KOF’s capture and possession of octopus paralarvae violates Hawaii law allowing only the possession of day octopus larger than one pound. The petitioners urge the DAR to investigate and deny any of KOF’s pending permit applications and ask NELHA to terminate its rental agreement with KOF at a state-owned business park.
[To accompany Agency Update "Petitioners Urge Hawaii Agencies to Take Action Against Petting Zoo that is Capturing and Using Octopi for Entertainment” from Brooks Animal Law Digest Issue No.198]