Unprecedented octopus bloom off South West coast sparks joint study by DEFRA, councils, scientists, and fishermen to assess impacts.
An unusual bloom of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) off the South West coast has triggered an unprecedented collaboration between local government, national authorities, and the scientific community to investigate its causes and consequences.
The phenomenon, first reported earlier this year by crab and lobster fishermen, has seen traditional catches suddenly replaced by octopus in large numbers, raising concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems and the fishing industry.
Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and DEFRA have come together to fund a major study led by Dr Bryce Stewart of the Marine Biological Association (MBA), supported by scientists from Plymouth University and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
“A Dramatic Shift” in Catches
Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Almost overnight, our local potters saw their usual crab and lobster catches replaced by octopus and the remains of what they hadn’t eaten. It was a dramatic shift. While historic data shows that octopus blooms have occurred before, none have happened in living memory, which is why we felt it was essential to act quickly – gathering real-time data and first-hand accounts from fishermen across the South West. We’re incredibly grateful to Devon County Council for partnering with us, and to Minister Zeichner for recognising the urgency of the situation. DEFRA’s support has been vital in helping us launch this important research.”
Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of Devon County Council, said: “On a personal level, living near Salcombe and Dartmouth, this is having a direct effect on the fishing community in my area and across the whole of Devon. We’re pleased to be supporting this project which is important for our environment and economy. Climate change is warming our seas and oceans and we’re now seeing the additional challenges that’s bringing with it, so it’s vital that we gain a better understanding of how this is impacting local marine life and the knock-on effect on our local fishing industry.”
The UK Fishing News brought to you by
The United Kingdom Fishing News brought to you by
Fishermen’s Knowledge at the Centre
Former fisherman and scientist Dr Simon Thomas is leading engagement with the fishing community. He said: “The vast knowledge of the fishermen is central to understanding what has happened with the octopus bloom. They have been out there, observing the bloom evolve and move in real time. My job is to listen to the fishermen and piece together their ideas and information, combine with historical and environmental data, to try and understand why these octopus are here in such large numbers and if this will be an isolated event or will this happen more often.”
The study will also deploy new technologies, including baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs) and time-lapse cameras on crab and lobster pots, to monitor octopus behaviour and build a possible early warning system for future events.
Dr Stewart said: “We are hugely grateful to Plymouth City Council for leading the call for this research, and to them, Devon County Council and Defra for providing financial support for the project. Through our work we aim to better understand why the bloom occurred, how it has affected the fishing industry, and how to be better prepared if such a bloom happens again. With climate change rapidly warming our waters, unusual biological events such as this are only likely to become more common in the future.”
Industry Welcomes Rapid Response
Local fisherman Brian Tapper said: “It’s great to see this study get underway and we’re looking forward to working with Dr Thomas and sharing our knowledge and information. It’s a tough time for small scale fishermen, the octopus bloom, and its impacts to crab, lobster and scallop stocks needs to be well understood. I’ve never seen a science project start so quickly and use local expertise, this is clearly down to Plymouth City Council leading the charge and I hope we see more of these types of projects locally led, engaging with fishermen to fill other knowledge and stock gaps in the future.”
Beshlie Pool of the South Devon and Channel Fishermen Association said: “We are incredibly grateful to the leaders of Devon County Council and Plymouth City Council for agreeing to fund this piece of work alongside DEFRA. To have their support in trying to understand the implications of the current octopus bloom on our futures is invaluable to us. We are keen to share what we know with Dr. Simon Thomas and are excited to learn more as things progress.”
Mat Mander of Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&S IFCA) said: “We welcome the engagement and research that is being conducted by Plymouth University, Plymouth Marine Laboratory and the Marine Biological Association. It is also encouraging that two of our Devon Councils and Defra recognised the value of this type of work and were able to provide financial support. It is vital that scientists, fishers and regulators work together to gather as much data as we can. This will hopefully improve our understanding of how the octopus are behaving so we are better prepared should octopus reappear on the grounds in such numbers in the future.”
