Scientists Studying Octopus Reach Out to Fishers for Insights

Researchers Seek Fishers’ Insights as Octopus Numbers Surge

Marine scientists are calling on fishing communities across the Channel Islands and south-west England to share their experiences as octopus populations boom at unprecedented levels.

Dr Simon Thomas, of the University of Plymouth, said the sharp increase — known as a “bloom” — was the second in just four years. Typically, such events occur only once every 50 to 70 years.

He is urging those working in the industry, particularly crab and lobster fishers, to contribute first-hand accounts to help researchers understand what lies behind the surge.

“If you spend every day at sea making your living, you probably know more about your waters than I do,” Dr Thomas explained.

Numbers of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) have been climbing since early this year, with the bloom first appearing off the French coast before spreading to the Channel Islands and along England’s south coast.

The research team, working alongside the Marine Biological Association and Plymouth Marine Laboratory, is exploring possible causes, including shifts in sea temperatures. But, Dr Thomas admitted, “we don’t know a lot of the reasons why this happened.”

For many inshore fishers, the impact has been stark. Octopuses have been crowding into crab and lobster pots — sometimes a dozen at a time — leaving shellfish stocks badly depleted.

“Catches have completely collapsed where octopuses are present,” Dr Thomas said, describing the behaviour as unusual for a species that is normally solitary.

Octopuses are known for their short, rapid life cycles, growing quickly, breeding prolifically, and dying within just a couple of years. Researchers fear that if blooms become more frequent, they could disrupt the balance of local fisheries.

Some fishers have already begun targeting octopus, with one of the largest ever hauls recently landed in Newlyn, Cornwall. Yet Dr Thomas warned that smaller operators may find it difficult to sell their catch.

“It’s decimating some fishermen’s livelihoods,” he said. “That’s never a good thing.”