Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) is thrilled to announce the release of the 3rd edition of our Aquaculture Certification Schemes Benchmark: Aquatic Animal Welfare. This annual report evaluates the welfare standards of 8 global seafood certification schemes and, for the first time, an international ratings agency.

On September 27th, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 3162, the California Oppose Cruelty to Octopuses (OCTO) Act into law, prohibiting octopus farming and the sales of commercially farmed octopus products in California.

The 5th Annual Aquatic Life Conference was a resounding success, bringing together 860 registrants and 18 globally diverse speakers to discuss the future of the seafood industry through the lens of Aquatic Life Institute’s 4Rs framework: Reduce, Refine, Replace, and Reject.

Aquatic Life Institute has supported major companies, Tesco and Hilton Foods, in producing comprehensive crustacean welfare policies, both released this month.

We are thrilled to share groundbreaking news in our Octopus Farming Ban Campaign. U.S. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Lisa Murkowski have introduced a federal bill to ban the commercial farming of octopuses, as well as the importation and sale of commercially farmed octopus.

From May 16-19, Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) attended the Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit in Washington, DC, where more than 800 animal advocates convened, and over 70 sessions took place to strengthen our advocacy efforts for animals in the global food system.

For the first time, the topic of animal welfare was incorporated into the official program of the Seafood Expo Global, gaining prominence alongside pressing issues such as climate change, labor rights, and sustainability.

Aquatic Life Institute has both led and contributed to a global campaign to ban octopus farming since 2022. We are adamantly opposed to the establishment of this industry as there are a myriad of animal welfare, environmental, public health and community wellbeing concerns regarding exploiting octopuses in intensive settings.

From March 3-7, Aquatic Life Institute’s team members, Christine Xu and Sophika Kostyniuk, attended the 9th World Fisheries Congress in Seattle. This gathering serves as a global platform for fisheries managers and scientists to tackle the complex challenges facing aquatic ecosystems.

At Seafood Expo North America in Boston in early March, Aquatic Life Institute team members engaged in discussions and made connections with stakeholders aligned with our vision for a more humane and sustainable seafood industry.

In a groundbreaking move for aquatic animal welfare, Washington House Bill 1153, which prohibits octopus farming in the state, has been officially signed into law, and is the first law of its kind in the world.

2023 marks the hottest year on record. Our oceans, the world's largest carbon sink, are experiencing unprecedented threats from multiple fronts. Our team will be at COP28 to ensure holistic climate policies that include ocean conservation and aquatic animal welfare.

Together, we can make a meaningful difference for aquatic animals and our planet. This Giving Tuesday, November 28th, stand with us in our mission to reduce the suffering of aquatic animals caught in the global food system.

As the world confronts pressing issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and ethical treatment of animals, businesses have a pivotal role to play in crafting solutions that contribute positively to sustainable development.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) has launched the second edition of the aquaculture certification benchmark tool that analyzes current welfare requirements within the primary farming standards of 7 global seafood certification schemes.

Aquatic Life Institute (ALI) proudly collaborated with the Animal and Vegan Advocacy Summit (AVA) organizing team over the past year, to curate two comprehensive sessions, exclusively focused on championing effective interventions to advocate for aquatic animals within the food system.

Leading up to the 2023 SDG Summit, we have published a new report on how aquatic animal welfare intertwines with multiple SDGs, highlighting ten priority areas where it can pave the way towards achieving a more sustainable and equitable world by 2030.

The 3rd UN Ocean Conference is a critical opportunity for the international community to recognize the urgency of the challenges facing the ocean and provide much-needed solutions.

Based on AVAAZ’s wildly successful petition to ban octopus farming, with now almost 1 million signatures, they commissioned Aquatic Life Institute to write a report that substantiates their call to action.

This year for World Oceans day, the Aquatic Animal Alliance is highlighting the importance of aquatic animal welfare interventions in ocean conservation.