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Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Invading hoard of octopuses from the Mediterranean devour shellfish caught by British fishing crews - leaving shortages at restaurants
An invading horde of hungry octopuses from the Mediterranean is decimating crab fisheries in British waters. Shellfish wholesalers say the huge influx has resulted in swingeing cuts to restaurant orders, leaving chefs scrambling to keep their kitchens stocked. The canny octopuses, thought to have been lured north in their thousands by unusually warm UK waters, have learned to raid fishermen's pots through a small 'escape hatch' – designed to allow juvenile crabs and lobsters to crawl free. And while they will dine on all shellfish, crab is considered their favourite prey. The owner of one Devon boat, Brian Tapper, of Plymouth, said: 'The octopuses are ruining us. They're coming in the side hatch – it's like McDonald's for them. They are just sitting in there until they're full. They'll go through 50 pots eating lobsters, crabs and even scallops. By the time we come along, there's nothing left.' Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, said the octopuses were 'decimating the crab fishery', although boats targeting them were enjoying a bonanza, with more than 27,000kg of the cephalopods landed at Brixham on a single morning last week. 'We'd normally be lucky to get 500 kilos,' said Mr Young. 'Long-term, it will be a massive problem for restaurateurs who are trying to source shellfish.' He added that the last time Brixham saw octopus catches on a similar scale was more than 70 years ago, when spring sea temperatures were also high. The current 'marine heatwave' has meant southern UK waters are around 2.5C higher than normal. At The Winking Prawn restaurant in Salcombe, manager Andrew Hartle said his Brixham crab order had been cut by a quarter. He added: 'We're lucky because we also work directly with three or four Salcombe boats and can ring around to get what we need. But it's clear that crab is in very short supply. 'Restaurants with a single supplier are going to have problems.' Pot escape hatches are mandatory under a by-law imposed by the Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (D&SIFCA). It will consider next month whether permit rules can be eased. In a statement, the authority said it was aware of 'significant difficulties being experienced by the fishing industry… in respect of predation by octopus'. It added: 'Fishers are reporting that the entry and exit to pots may be through escape gaps fitted in pots. D&SIFCA is aware that this is having an impact on fishers' catches of shellfish and their livelihoods.'
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Octopus invasion ‘decimating' shellfish industry
An invasion of Moroccan octopuses is decimating the shellfish industry after warmer waters from a 'marine heatwave' drew the sea creatures north. 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.
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
British seas being invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters
BRITISH seas have been invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters. The creatures have swum from the Mediterranean to the coast of Devon and Cornwall. They break into crab and lobster pots 'totally destroying' the seafood. Fishermen have urged authorities to relax a bylaw stopping them selling 5kg octopus they find in their pots for £7 per kilo to eager Spain. One, Brian Tapper from Plymouth, said: 'This time of year we'd normally see 60 to 100kg of lobster a day and 500-800kg of crab. 'Last week we had 8kg of lobster and 50kg of crab. READ MORE ON OCTOPUSES "Suspending the law means we could ride out this Biblical invasion.' The Devon & Severn Fisheries Authority ruled boats can exclusively target octopus. But they cannot keep any found trapped in crab or lobster pots. Watch as male model is dragged underwater by OCTOPUS - as beast crawls over his body & snares him in its tentacles 1 British seas have been invaded by huge European octopuses
Scottish Sun
19-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
British seas being invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters
Fishermen have urged authorities to relax a bylaw OCTOPUS INVASION British seas being invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters BRITISH seas have been invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters. The creatures have swum from the Mediterranean to the coast of Devon and Cornwall. They break into crab and lobster pots 'totally destroying' the seafood. Fishermen have urged authorities to relax a bylaw stopping them selling 5kg octopus they find in their pots for £7 per kilo to eager Spain. One, Brian Tapper from Plymouth, said: 'This time of year we'd normally see 60 to 100kg of lobster a day and 500-800kg of crab. 'Last week we had 8kg of lobster and 50kg of crab. "Suspending the law means we could ride out this Biblical invasion.' The Devon & Severn Fisheries Authority ruled boats can exclusively target octopus. But they cannot keep any found trapped in crab or lobster pots. Watch as male model is dragged underwater by OCTOPUS - as beast crawls over his body & snares him in its tentacles
The Sun
19-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
British seas being invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters
BRITISH seas have been invaded by huge European octopuses devouring our crabs and lobsters. The creatures have swum from the Mediterranean to the coast of Devon and Cornwall. They break into crab and lobster pots 'totally destroying' the seafood. Fishermen have urged authorities to relax a bylaw stopping them selling 5kg octopus they find in their pots for £7 per kilo to eager Spain. One, Brian Tapper from Plymouth, said: 'This time of year we'd normally see 60 to 100kg of lobster a day and 500-800kg of crab. 'Last week we had 8kg of lobster and 50kg of crab. "Suspending the law means we could ride out this Biblical invasion.' The Devon & Severn Fisheries Authority ruled boats can exclusively target octopus. But they cannot keep any found trapped in crab or lobster pots. Watch as male model is dragged underwater by OCTOPUS - as beast crawls over his body & snares him in its tentacles 1
