Mexico bill seeks nationwide ban on octopus farming
Mar 6th 2026
A bill introduced in the Mexican Senate would amend fisheries law to ban breeding and growth of cephalopods nationwide; it was filed by Senator Maki Ortiz Domínguez with backing from Fundación Veg and Aquatic Life Institute and now goes to Senate commissions for review.
- Bill would prohibit the breeding and growth stages of any cephalopod in Mexican territory with no permits granted.
- Senator Maki Esther Ortiz Domínguez (PVEM) introduced the measure with Fundación Veg and technical support from Aquatic Life Institute.
- The proposal now moves to the relevant Senate commissions for discussion.
- Mexico hosts the only operational octopus farm in the Western Hemisphere in Sisal, Yucatán, which has reported over 50 percent mortality and about 30 percent of deaths linked to cannibalism after 12 years.
- The bill cites environmental, animal welfare, public health, and socioeconomic risks, including pressure on wild fish stocks for feed, antimicrobial resistance, and reported paragonimosis cases in Yucatán.
- The proposal follows similar moves in Chile and several US states and is presented as part of growing global momentum to prevent octopus farming.