Definition of Shellfish; Inclusion of Cephalopods
Key claim: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is amending the regulatory definition of ‘shellfish’ to explicitly include cephalopods such as squid, cuttlefish, and octopus, reducing ambiguity and aligning with current biological and commercial practice.
Abstract
(Rule · Interior Department, Fish and Wildlife Service) We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are amending the definition of “shellfish” in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) by removing the phrase “having a shell” and adding specific taxa. This amendment will clarify that squid, cuttlefish, octopus, and other cephalopods are included within the regulatory definition of shellfish. This action is deregulatory in nature, as it reduces regulatory ambiguity, aligns the Service’s regulations with current biological understanding and commercial practice, reduces regulatory burden and is within the Service’s purview to amend definitions as needed.
Why this matters
Regulatory definitions determine which species fall under which permitting, trade, and enforcement regimes, so explicitly folding cephalopods into ‘shellfish’ reduces ambiguity for importers, fishers, and inspectors dealing with USFWS wildlife rules. The change is administrative rather than substantive, with negligible direct effect on farmers, consumers, or food prices, but it harmonizes federal terminology with how the seafood industry and biologists already treat squid, cuttlefish, and octopus.