US EditionBoom or bust for fishing industry as octopuses swarm in UK waters?
- Regulators and fishing industry representatives met on May 28, 2025, to discuss an explosion of octopuses in UK waters, especially along England's southwest coast.
- This event follows previous octopus blooms in 1899 and 2022, with possible causes including warmer waters, fewer predators, and a recent marine heatwave raising temperatures by 2.3C.
- Fishers report a massive increase in octopus numbers and size, with catches rising to 1,000 kilograms daily of animals weighing 2.5-3.5kg, while crab and lobster stocks have dropped about 70%.
- Alan Steer noted that earlier this year, there was a sudden and significant surge in the number of octopuses, while Sarah Clark expressed concern about this rise.
- The meeting aims to determine necessary fisher support and plans future data collection to assess the octopus impact and whether this boom might persist, though its return next year remains uncertain.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Sky News UK
khbrknewsBoom or bust for fishing industry as octopuses swarm in UK waters?
Regulators, fishers, academics and conservation bodies are trying to work out what has fuelled the "octopus bloom" in the South West, and whether the creatures are here to stay.
Newlyn’s ‘Enterprise’ Lands Record Catch at Harbour - Business in the News
A Newlyn-based fishing vessel has made headlines after landing the largest single catch ever recorded at Newlyn Harbour. The beam trawler Enterprise, owned by the Ocean Fish Group, brought ashore a record-breaking catch, dominated by nearly 20 tonnes of octopus. The catch grossed just over £158,000, marking a significant moment not only for the crew, but for the wider Cornish fishing industry. This landmark landing highlights the strength and sk…
'Here in the South West, we value our seafood. We celebrate it': Mitch Tonks on his new Salcombe restaurant the state of our fishing industry
Oliver Berry catches up with the celebrated seafood chef to discuss the opening of his new restaurant in Salcombe, the challenges of converting an old boatshed, and why he thinks his online fishmonger and cannery business might be the future.
Newlyn-based ‘Enterprise’ Lands Record Catch at Harbour - UK Fishing Industry - The Fishing Daily - Irish, UK and European Fishing Industry News
Newlyn vessel Enterprise lands record £158,000 catch, including 20 tonnes of octopus—boosting Cornish fishing pride and supply A Newlyn-based fishing vessel has made headlines after landing the largest single catch ever recorded at Newlyn Harbour. The beam trawler Enterprise, owned by the Ocean Fish Group, brought ashore a record-breaking catch dominated by nearly 20 tonnes of octopus. The …
Boom Or Bust For Fishing Industry As Octopuses Swarm In UK Waters? - Great Yorkshire Radio
Fishers along England’s southwest coast have noticed a boom in the numbers and size of common octopus in the last few months. “As of February this year, there was just a massive explosion in the population of octopus,” said Alan Steer, a crab fisher based in Devon. “We went from catching nothing to catching 1,000 kilograms a day,” with each cephalopod weighing between 2.5-3.5kg, he told Sky News. The octopus is a valuable catch, fetching more at…
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