State may ban some octopus hunting near Seattle

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Department says it will consider banning octopus hunting near popular Seattle beaches and possibly other areas of Puget Sound where divers enjoy watching the animals.

The department said Thursday it would hold public meetings this winter on the proposed ban.

The move is a response to the outrage that erupted last week after a 19-year-old diver wrestled a giant Pacific octopus onto a popular West Seattle beach.