Octopus Numbers Surge Off South-West Coast

A wildlife charity has declared 2025 “the Year of the Blooming Octopus” after record numbers of the species were spotted off the south-west coast of England.

Record Octopus Sightings at Highest Level Since 1950

In its annual marine review, the Wildlife Trusts said octopus numbers this summer reached their highest levels since 1950. The sharp rise in population, known as an octopus “bloom”, has been linked to warmer winters associated with climate change.

The charity’s findings are supported by government figures showing that more than 1,200 tonnes of octopus were landed by fishermen in UK waters during the summer of 2025.

That marks a dramatic increase compared with previous years. Since 2021, landings have exceeded 200 tonnes only once prior to this year.

Experts say most of the animals being recorded are Octopus vulgaris, a species more commonly associated with warmer Mediterranean waters.

Wildlife Trusts volunteers in Cornwall and Devon reported an increase in sightings of more than 1,500% compared with 2023 along parts of the south coast.

“It really has been exceptional,” says Matt Slater from the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. “We’ve seen octopuses jet-propelling themselves along. We’ve seen octopuses camouflaging themselves, they look just like seaweeds.

“We’ve seen them cleaning themselves. And we’ve even seen them walking, using two legs just to nonchalantly cruise away from the diver underwater.”

Long-Term Impact of Octopus Bloom Still Unclear

Scientists say it is not yet known whether the surge in numbers represents a permanent shift or a cyclical event, which would see octopus populations return to more typical levels in future years.

Octopuses prey on shellfish including lobsters, crabs and scallops, and the Wildlife Trusts warn that if populations remain high, both fishing practices and consumer eating habits may need to adapt.

“They are having an impact on those (shellfish) species around our shores. And as a consequence, they will be having an impact on our fishing industry who target those species as well,” Ruth Williams the head of marine for The Wildlife Trusts said.

“But there are opportunities and our fishing industry are doing some research into that at the moment to try and evolve with the changing fisheries that we’re seeing as a result of climate change.”

Government data shows crab landings have fallen compared with previous years, while catches of lobster, crawfish and scallops have remained stable.

Alongside positive news for octopus populations, the Wildlife Trusts’ marine review highlighted several environmental disasters in UK waters this year.

These included a collision between an oil tanker and a container ship in the North Sea in March, which released large quantities of plastic resin pellets, and the discharge of nearly 4.5 tonnes of bio-beads from a water treatment plant in Sussex in November.

Conservation Successes for Puffins Offer Hope

The review also contained encouraging news elsewhere, with a record 46,000 puffins counted on Skomer Island in Pembrokeshire.

The black-and-white seabird has also made a comeback on the Isle of Muck following conservation work by Ulster Wildlife Trust to remove invasive brown rats.

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At Natural World Fund, we are passionate about restoring habitats in the UK to halt the decline in our wildlife.