- Octopus proliferation in Devon and Cornwall displaces crab and shellfish fishing.
- Warming seawater favors their reproduction; there are historical precedents for similar peaks.
- Economic impact: falling catches, plant closures, and restaurants adapting menus.
- An official study is underway at the University of Plymouth, with initial findings expected in October.
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An unexpected change has occurred in the waters of Devon and Cornwall: The crab traps are now filled with octopuses, transforming the daily lives of those who make their living from fishing in southwest England. What is an opportunity for some chefs is a headache for sailors that threatens their livelihood.
The case of Plymouth illustrates the extent of the change: Brian Tapper, with almost four decades of experience, describes a bumpy season in which his fishing gear went from empty in March to overflowing with cephalopods in May, only to be flat again in July; the blow was so severe that his family had to close a small crab processing plant.
Octopuses where there used to be crabs
Eyeglasses
What Tapper is experiencing is no exception: Fishermen in Cornwall and Devon report the same pattern, with octopuses colonizing the traps and devouring crabs and shellfish at a rate that is difficult for the local ecosystem and the port economy to cope with.
Official data support the magnitude of the phenomenon: In the first six months of 2025, more than 1.200 tons of octopus were produced., compared to fewer than 80 in the same period last year and just over 150 in 2023; at the same time, the spider crab catch has suffered significantly, according to records from the British Fisheries Administration.
The supply chain is also noticing the shift. Southwest restaurants have added more octopus dishes. to overcome the shortage of other seafood, while markets adjust prices and schedules to the new pulse of the auctions.
On land, the concern is deepening. Industry leaders warn that octopuses, as they multiply, are putting pressure on key native species for local fisheries; a dynamic that several agents describe as disturbing due to its speed and potential to drag down the entire food web.
The sea is warming: why now and what happened in the past
Detail
Scientists point to an underlying factor: the warming of the northeast Atlantic over the past 18 months has created more favorable conditions for the octopus, which prefers warmer waters, reproduces quickly, and can complete its life cycle in the area if it survives the winter.
History supports that hypothesis. There were documented octopus surges in 1899, the 30s, and the 50s., episodes also preceded by increases in sea temperature; now, with a warmer ocean, researchers do not rule out the possibility that the pattern could be repeated and prolonged.
If confirmed, the scenario would fit with what was observed at work: increased predatory pressure on crabs, lobsters and other shellfish, with cascading effects on resource availability and the balance of the coastal ecosystem in southwest England.
Economic impact, adaptation and measures in place
Plano
Amid the storm, some have found temporary respite. Chris Kelly, with a small boat, has survived by selling octopuses to wholesalers and restaurants; however, he wonders what will happen to lobster and spider crab populations in the medium term if the trend continues.
The administrations have reacted by commissioning an in-depth analysis: The University of Plymouth is coordinating a study to assess causes, scope and possible fisheries management measures, with a first report expected in October that could set the tone for future campaigns.
Until conclusions are reached, the sector combines prudence and pragmatism: monitor catches, make arts more flexible and diversify sales These are ideas that circulate in brotherhoods and markets, waiting for science to clarify whether the boom is temporary or structural.
On the docks, the murmur is the same: Coastal communities live with uncertainty, adjusting shifts, routes and expectations to a sea that, in a matter of months, has changed the rules of the game.
The current photograph is of a coastline in transition, with the octopus as an unexpected protagonist: Record catch figures, clear signs of warming waters and a sector that is adapting while the public inquiry attempts to date and shape a phenomenon that could redefine fishing in southwest England.
