2025 Hailed as the 'Year of the Octopus' Off Britain's Southern Shores.
Unprecedented sightings of one of the world's most intelligent invertebrates during the summer season have prompted the naming of 2025 as the year for octopuses in an annual review of the nation's marine environment.
A Perfect Storm for a Population Boom
An unusually warm winter and then a remarkably hot spring triggered a massive influx of *Octopus vulgaris* to take up residence along England’s south coast, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts.
“The scale of the catch was roughly 13 times what we would typically see in Cornish waters,” stated an ocean conservation expert. “Calculating the figures, approximately 233,000 octopuses were caught in these waters this year – that’s a huge increase from historical averages.”
The common octopus is indigenous to these waters but usually so scarce it is infrequently encountered. An explosive growth is attributed to a combination of gentle winter conditions and favorable spring temperatures. Such favorable circumstances meant more larvae, possibly in part fuelled by large numbers of a favored prey species also recorded.
A Historic Event
The most recent occasion, an octopus bloom of this size was recorded in 1950, with past documentation indicating the one before that occurred in 1900.
The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be frequently seen in nearshore environments for a rare occurrence. Diver videos show octopuses gathering in groups – they are usually solitary – and “walking” along the bottom on their tentacle tips. One creature was even filmed grabbing submarine recording equipment.
“The first time I dived off the Lizard peninsula this year I saw five of these creatures,” the officer added. “They are sizeable. There are two types in these waters. The curled octopus is rather small, about the size of a football, but these common octopuses can be with a span of 1.5 meters.”
Future Prospects and Other Surprises
Another mild winter going into 2026 meant it was possible a repeat event in 2026, because based on records, in similar situations, events have occurred consecutively for two years running.
“Still, the chances are low, looking at history, that it will go on for a long time,” they stated. “The ocean is full of surprises these days so it’s hard to forecast.”
The annual review also noted other “surprises, successes and joyful moments” across British shores, including:
- Highest-ever counts of grey seals seen in Cumbria.
- Record numbers of the iconic seabirds on an island off Wales.
- The first recording of an unusual mollusc in a northern county, typically a southwestern species.
- A Mediterranean fish species found off the coast of Sussex for the first time.
Not All Positive News
Challenges were also present, however. “The period was framed by marine incidents,” stated an expert. “A significant shipping incident in the North Sea and a spill of industrial pellets off the southern coast served as stark reminders. Staff and volunteers are putting in immense work to defend and heal our marine habitats.”