Octopus invasion ‘decimating' shellfish industry
The highest spring sea temperatures for 70 years and plentiful shellfish harvested by fishermen off the Devon coast have attracted thousands of octopuses from the Mediterranean.
While some fishermen have benefited by landing between four and six tonnes of octopuses a day, those harvesting crabs, lobsters and scallops have seen their catches decimated by the hungry cephalopods.
One Devon by-law requires that crab pots must have an escape hatch so that the juvenile crabs can escape. However, this means that the octopuses can enter the pots and eat the crabs and lobsters inside, leaving just a trail of shells for the fishermen to pick up.
Brian Tapper, a fisherman, said: 'The octopuses are coming in the side hatch. It's like McDonalds for them. They are just sitting in there until they are full. They are just going along a whole string of pots.
'They will go through 50 pots, leaving empty pots and a few shells from lobsters, crabs and even scallops. They take the scallops in there to eat. It is almost like they are using it as a hole. It's safe. Once they are finished, off they go.'
He warned that if it continued, the local fish processing factory would have to close within the next five to six weeks, with the boats then having to be tied up a couple of months later.
Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, described the influx as 'an invasion' and said the octopuses were 'decimating the crab fishery at the minute'.
He said: 'At this morning's auction, we got 27 tonnes of these Mediterranean octopuses. We would normally be lucky to get 500kg [1,100lb].
'Long term, it could be devastating for the shellfish industry in the UK if these octopuses stay. Unless we see a reduction in these octopuses, we won't see any shellfish.'
There are also concerns about a shortage of crabs, scallops and lobsters in restaurants and fishmongers. However, other fishermen are welcoming the arrival of the octopuses, as they fetch a high price when sold in Europe.
The Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) held an emergency meeting last week to consider relaxing the rules under the bylaw to try to protect the shellfish industry.
It said it was aware of the current significant difficulties being experienced because of the 'predation of octopus within shellfish pots'.
The authority said it was in the process of gathering information and evidence, which would be presented to IFCA's bylaw and permitting sub-committee on June 26, when issues relating to the octopus industry would be considered in more depth.
The octopuses have been attracted by seas around the UK coast that are 2.5 degrees celsius warmer than would normally be expected at this time of year. Fishermen said it last happened in 1952 but there are concerns that climate change could mean it becomes a more regular occurrence.
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