2025 Proclaimed 'The Octopus Year' Off England's Southern Shores.
Unprecedented encounters of a remarkably clever cephalopod this past summer have prompted the designation of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in an annual review of Britain’s seas.
A Perfect Storm Leading to an Explosion
A gentle winter and then an exceptionally warm spring prompted a huge population of Mediterranean octopuses to establish themselves along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts.
“The reported landings was approximately 13 times what we would typically see in the waters around Cornwall,” stated an ocean conservation expert. “Based on the totals, around 233 thousand octopuses were caught in these waters this year – that’s a huge increase from historical averages.”
The common octopus is native to British seas but usually so scarce it is infrequently encountered. A population bloom is attributed to a combination of gentle winter conditions and a warm breeding season. These ideal conditions meant more larvae, possibly in part fuelled by abundant stocks of spider crabs also recorded.
An Uncommon Occurrence
Previously, an octopus bloom of this size was recorded in 1950, with past documentation indicating the one before that happened in 1900.
The remarkable abundance of octopuses meant they could be frequently seen in shallow waters for the first time in recent history. Video footage show octopuses being sociable – they are usually solitary – and “walking” along the ocean floor on their arm ends. One creature was even recorded reaching for an underwater camera.
“During a first dive in that area this year I saw multiple octopuses,” the specialist continued. “They are large specimens. There are two types in the region. One species is quite small, the size of a ball, but these common octopuses can be with a span of 1.5 meters.”
Future Prospects and Other Surprises
A second gentle winter this coming winter could lead to another surge in 2026, because based on records, under these conditions, populations have surged again for two consecutive years.
“Still, the chances are low, from previous blooms, that it will persist indefinitely,” they cautioned. “Marine life is unpredictable currently so it’s quite an unpredictable situation.”
The annual review also celebrated additional positive marine news along the coast, including:
- A record number of gray seals observed in one northern region.
- Peak numbers of puffins on a Welsh island.
- The first recording of the *Capellinia fustifera* nudibranch in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west.
- A variable blenny found off the coast of a southern county for the first time.
Environmental Concerns
The year had its low points, however. “The year was bookended by ecological challenges,” said a head of marine conservation. “A significant shipping incident in March and a spill of tonnes of plastic biobeads off the southern coast were serious issues. Staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to protect and restore our marine habitats.”
