The text of the law recognizes that octopuses are “highly intelligent, curious, problem-solving animals” that are conscious, sentient and experience “pain, stress, and fear, as well as pleasure, equanimity, and social bonds.” It goes on to note that in research studies, these eight-legged marine invertebrates have demonstrated long-term memory as well as the ability to recognize individual people.
At the very least, this sets a precedent, although it’s pretty obvious based on the law’s text that octopodes being the target here instead of or in addition to e.g. pigs which are known to be quite intelligent is a clear example of doublethink. Nonetheless, this is a huge win for just leaving animals the fuck alone.
This might be the tentacle under the jar lid that eventually leads to, “we accepted that eating an intelligent octopus was wrong, it’s time to treat pigs like the sentient creatures they are.”
On the one hand, I totally agree, and this gives me a cautious optimism beyond just the prospect for improved octopus welfare.
On the other hand, you knew what you were doing when you made that pun, and you should feel ashamed. (It was really funny tho)