OR HB2965

Establishes regulatory requirements for aquaculture facilities in Oregon that raise finfish and cephalopods for human food, including water quality standards, stocking density limits, and prohibitions on net-pen farming in marine/estuarine waters and use of genetically engineered aquatic animals

Prohibits aquaculture facilities from discharging water or waste into marine waters or estuaries, releasing aquatic animals into state waters, or taking lethal action against predators

Requires aquaculture facilities to maintain and publicly disclose records of medications, disease outbreaks, water quality tests, and violations, with immediate reporting of infectious disease outbreaks to state agencies

Creates the Aquatic Animals Fund to support implementation, education on humane treatment, and grants for facilities transitioning to more humane operations or plant-based aquaculture

Becomes operative January 1, 2027, with State Department of Fish and Wildlife required to adopt implementing rules by that date; exempts small independent operations with less than $500,000 annual gross revenue from stocking density requirements