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BBC News
23-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Climate change driving octopus surge, says Plymouth scientist
A dramatic surge in octopus numbers along the South West coast of the UK is being linked to climate lucrative octopus bloom has led to a dramatic fall in the number of shellfish such as crab, lobsters and scallops which the octopus preys long-term consequences for the region's shellfish industry are now concerning those in the fishing Bryce Stewart, a marine ecologist with the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said the octopus bloom was likely to be the result of unusually warm sea temperatures and shifting ocean currents, both driven by global climate change. "This year has seen an explosion in octopus numbers, particularly in Cornwall," Dr Stewart said. "Fishermen first started noticing more octopus in 2022 and while numbers dipped slightly last year, 2025 has brought a dramatic increase."The species in question, the European or Mediterranean octopus (Octopus vulgaris), is typically associated with warmer with sea temperatures in the South West reaching up to 4C above normal this year - an "unbelievably warm" anomaly, according to Dr Stewart - conditions have become increasingly favourable for their reproduction and survival, he said."Even a one or two degree rise can have a huge impact on marine life which are ectothermic and rely on the surrounding water to regulate their body temperature," he said."Octopus breed in spring and summer and warmer temperatures during those months help their eggs and young develop more successfully," Dr Stewart explained. "But what's really crucial is the winter temperature. "Normally, cold winters would kill off many of the young but this past winter was exceptionally warm, allowing more to survive." Dr Stewart thinks that octopus have now become a feature of the local warming trend is part of a broader ecological shift, he said. "We're seeing more Mediterranean species in UK waters and fewer cold-water species like cod, haddock and pollock," Dr Stewart said. "The ecosystem is changing rapidly and that is directly tied to climate change."For shell-fishermen like Alan Steer, who works out of Beesands in Devon, the impact has been immediate and severe."We'd never seen an octopus five years ago," he said. "Now, since February, it's been an explosion. "They're devastating the shellfish we rely on. Crabs and lobsters are being eaten in the pots before we can land them." Mr Steer, vice chair of South Devon and Channel Shell-fishermen, estimates his catch has dropped by at least 60% this summer, with some pots coming up filled only with empty scallop shells and fragments of crab and lobster. "It's been dramatic," he said. "We already had a slight decline over the last two years but this year, with the octopus, it's just dropped off a cliff."While some fishermen have managed to sell octopus to new markets, others are struggling. "The vessels that haven't been catching octopus but are still seeing a drop in crab and lobster are having a very, very difficult time," he said. "Some boats have already left the industry."Mr Steer and others are now experimenting with octopus-specific pots that do not require costly crab bait but uncertainty remains. "We're trying a few but we don't know if this is something we can invest in wholeheartedly without knowing the science behind whether they're going to be here for very long," he said. Dr Stewart is leading a new study funded by Defra, Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council to understand the phenomenon."We'll know more in six months but it's clear that climate change is reshaping our coastal ecosystems in real time," he now, Mr Steer is cautiously adapting, testing new pot designs aimed at catching octopus with an eye on history which has shown that blooms like this have lasted a few years and then vanished, leaving shellfish stocks depleted for years afterwards."I've been calling myself an octopus fisherman for the last six months," he said. "It's been good to us so far this year and I hope we can keep going. "But if they disappear, I think we're in for some very tough times."
Euronews
16-07-2025
- Science
- Euronews
What scientists got right - and wrong
At the dawn of the millennium, a group of esteemed scientists drew up a list of threats they deemed most likely to impact the world's rocky shores over the coming quarter of a century. Now, in 2025, the same academics and other experts have reviewed their forecasts and done another stocktake of Earth's coastlines. The new study, published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, reveals several points where they were spot on - and others where their predictions fell wide of the mark. 'Our shorelines are sentinels for the global ocean and, for many people, their window to what is happening in our seas,' says Professor Hawkins, Lankester Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association (MBA), and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Southampton. 'Protecting their continued health is essential, but they are constantly facing multiple threats from land, sea and environmental change.' The first study, published in 2002, shows it is possible to forecast some challenges, he continues. 'However, there will always be things we can't foresee – and things that don't materialise as scientists might expect.' What did the scientists get right in their shoreline predictions? The scientists correctly predicted that oil spills would decrease in both frequency and volume - a trajectory that was already underway since the 1970s. Despite some major tanker-related spills, the biggest oil spill in the last two decades was offshore following the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, when a drilling platform operated by BP in the Gulf of Mexico exploded. The use of more environmentally sensitive clean-up methods has also generally lessened the severity of any post-spill impacts. Professors Hawkins and co-author Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS, Professor of Marine Biology at the University of Plymouth, were also right to predict that the global spread of non-native species would increase as global temperatures change. One example of an invasive species that has relocated as sea temperatures rise is the warm-water barnacle Austrominius modestus. Introduced to southern England in the 1940s, its range has now expanded into Europe - from Denmark to southern Portugal, and north into Scandinavia - where it tends to dominate in rocky intertidal areas. They were also correct to say that the growth of industrial agriculture, plus riverside and coastal urbanisation, would lead to increased sediment running into rivers, estuaries and seas. What went better than expected? Some forecasts were partially right. The 2002 study was insufficiently optimistic about reductions in the impacts of toxic chemicals, such as tributyltin (TBT), which were subsequently reined in by international legislation. 'Marine scientists have shown that a combination of global and local action can bring about positive change – the successful banning of TBT by the International Maritime Organization in 2003 being a notable example,' concludes Professor Thompson, who was recently named by TIME magazine among its 100 most influential people in the world for 2025. Another positive: concerns that offshore renewable energy installations might harm marine habitats have proved to be unfounded. Interestingly, the study notes, the growth of offshore wind installations has actually provided offshore habitat for some rocky shore species and stepping stones, thereby increasing the 'demographic connectivity' of populations. Climate change threats were underestimated While scientists were very aware of the influence of climate fluctuations, they didn't fully appreciate the varied impacts they would have on species and ecosystems. And they underestimated the importance of extreme weather events resulting from climate change. In the interim, other studies have warned how climate change is increasing the risk of extreme flooding and droughts, endangering coastal species which rely on natural salinity levels. Other threats the scientists missed 25 years ago include the impacts of coastal mining, ocean acidification and the staggering scale of plastic pollution. 'As international discussions continue around factors such as a Global Plastics Treaty and the most effective ways to reduce global warming, it is important that we recognise past environmental success and build on them,' says Professor Thompson. He and Professor Hawkins worked on the new study alongside Dr Kathryn O'Shaughnessy and other colleagues at the MBA and University of Plymouth and various other organisations across the UK, US, South Africa, Italy, Ireland, Chile, China and Monaco.
North Wales Live
09-07-2025
- Climate
- North Wales Live
Swarms of monster jellyfish invading North Wales beaches with visitors warned to get prepared
Monster jellyfish are likely to wash up on Welsh beaches in growing numbers in the coming years, a marine expert has warned. With the UK currently in the grip of a marine heatwave, warmer waters will bring larger - and more dangerous - sea creatures closer to coastlines. This summer, social media has been awash with photos of jumbo jellyfish on Gwynedd's west coast beaches. In recent weeks, giants have also begun washing up on the North Wales coast in Conwy. A few have been reported on Rhyl beach, Denbighshire. On Monday, July 7, Manchester visitor Lisa Whittaker came across several on Rhos on Sea beach. Valiantly she tried to slide one back into the water but she gave up after realising it was probably dead already. Stranded jellyfish are 95% water and they rapidly dehydrate when exposed to wind and sun. 'Never in my life have I seen one like it - and probably never again,' she marvelled. 'Impressively enormous' jellyfish have also been reported on Colwyn Bay beach. Local woman Dawn Roberts was left 'shocked' by one, saying: 'Never seen one so big in my life!' All were barrel jellyfish, a British native that are the giants of the jellyfish world. Strandings are not uncommon on Welsh beaches but, anedotally, people are reporting every bigger specimens. Certainly, feeding conditions this year have been ideal. UK waters are currently experiencing their second major heatwave off 2025, with sea surface temperatures currently well above average in the Celtic Sea, English Channel and southern North Sea. Anomalies of 1.5C-3C above the 1982-2012 average have been registered, with readings of 17C-20C recorded in the English Channel. These sea temperatures are more typical of early August in the late 20th century, said the Met Office. The Marine Biological Association, and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Sciences, fear warming waters are putting marine ecosystems at risk. Harmful algal blooms are possible and species such as mussels, oysters and salmon could become stressed. Others, like bluefin tuna, sea bass, stingrays and jellyfish may thrive and expand their range. Frankie Hobro, director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, has long warned of this scenario, having seen some remarkable water temperature rises at the facility's sea intake pipe. 'We're now turning on our water chillers in May," she said. "Ten years ago it was in July. Not only are we starting them earlier, we're having to keep them going for longer.' She suspects barrel jellyfish are not getting larger – we are just seeing more of them. 'They are always big specimens out in deep waters,' she said. 'But as the sea warms they're venturing closer to coastlines, and so we're seeing more of these bigger jellyfish washing up.' Equally possible is a change in the way strandings are being reported. As North Wales beaches become busier, especially in warmer years, more shorelines sightings are likely. 'With more people going to the coast, and swimming in our waters, it's inevitable that more specimens will be seen,' said Frankie. Irrespective of size, barrel jellyfish are mostly harmless, capable of delivering a nettle-like sting at worst. Others are not, and Frankie is particularly alarmed by the growing numbers of Portugese man 'o war jellyfish being reported. 'This was once an occasional visitor, in late August and September,' she said. 'Any that washed up were usually teeny. Now they've become seasonal visitors, perhaps for several weeks, and we're seeing them earlier in the summer, pushed up by warmer currents and breezes from the Atlantic. 'They have long tentacles and their stings are nasty, very unpleasant. Unlike box jellyfish, the stings are unlikely to be fatal, but Portugese man 'o war are definitely the second nastiest jellyfish in the sea.' As Britain's seas warm, and become more dangerous, Frankie believes there needs to be a change in mindset among beach visitors. As well as wearing suitable attire, knowledge of marine first aid will have to improve. 'We've always been a bit blasé about swimming or paddling in the sea,' she said. 'Whereas people arriving here from overseas are more used to the dangers and come prepared. 'You can get sunburnt in the water very quickly and, with new threats emerging, my advice would be to always cover up.' If wet suits are not an option, then quick-drying UV rash vests should be a starting point, she said. Frankie also advises swim boots or socks. 'The surf zone, where jellyfish are spun around like a washing machine, is where you're most likely to get stung,' she said. 'Ankles are therefore the most vulnerable. 'Footwear is always a good idea not just because of weever fish in the sand, which can cause excruciating pain, but also to avoid things like razor clams and glass.' If you are stung – either by jellyfish or tiny weever fish – Frankie cautions against old wives tales. 'Peeing on the sting site is not a good idea and may make it worse,' she said. Instead, sting sites should be treated with vinegar – the acid quickly denatures sting cells. Lemon juice is another option. 'Always keep a couple of venegar sachets from chip shops in the car or beach bag,' she said. If bits of tentacles have attached to the skin, a credit card can be used to squeeze them off. Ice will help cool the burning sensation and anti-histamines will ease the pain. 'Jellyfish are sensitive to changes in osmotic pressure, so be careful not to touch them,' Frankie added. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Other emerging threats include exotics that were once occasional vagrants in UK waters, such as trigger fish, pufferfish and sunfish, said Frankie. The Shortfin mako, the world's fastest swimming shark, is already making itself more at home in the UK.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Octopus boom along England's southwest coast down to 'perfect storm'
Octopuses, sharks and tuna that are booming in the sea around the UK could be part of a fundamental shift in the marine environment, a leading scientist has told Sky News. Dr Simon Thomas, from the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said a perfect storm of factors, including climate change and overfishing, is leading to a rapid change in the species being found around the coast. "Since 2016, you've seen a lot of our traditional fish, like cod, ling and pollock decreasing in numbers and pushing northwards," he said. "Then we've seen other fish, especially things like bluefin tuna and blue sharks, being found in huge numbers in the water here. "It's almost like you've seen a complete shift in the regime of the ocean." 'I've never seen anything like it' Fishermen on the south coast of Devon and Cornwall are currently catching huge numbers of a large octopus species that is normally rare in the UK. "I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime," said Dr Thomas. "I've spent 40 years at sea and probably seen three or four of the big octopus over the years. Now they are seen regularly and (crab fishermen) are reporting their pots have been decimated." The octopuses are raiding crab and lobster pots for an easy meal. But there are so many of them, and they are so hungry, that fishermen say they are eating not only the bait and crustaceans, but also, at times, each other. Sam Jago, skipper of the Bosloe, returned to Plymouth after a day's fishing with 11 crates of octopuses - a 400kg bonanza that could fetch almost £3,000 at market rates. But he had just over one tub of crabs and lobsters - when normally he'd have more than a dozen. "They crack the shell and suck everything out of it," he said. "It's a quick buck at the moment, but who knows how long it's going to last for. "They will stay here until they've eaten everything. "But if the octopus go, the crab isn't going to just appear out of thin air. "We won't have a great deal to catch." Read more from Sky News:Trooping the Colour - see best pics The Marine Biological Association is studying factors that could underpin the surge in octopus numbers. The sea around the UK is around 2C warmer than normal. But in the southwest of England the temperature is 3C or even 4C above average for the time of year. Dr Thomas said warmer waters increase survival of young octopus fry over winter, and a change to ocean currents could bring them more food. 'The ocean is changing' Overfishing of species that would normally eat young octopuses may also mean more are surviving to adulthood. "There is no doubt that the ocean is changing," he said. "Fishermen are like the canaries in the coal mine, the first to see things changing out at sea." Scientists say protecting key parts of the ocean as marine nature reserves would serve as a buffer against pressures from human activity elsewhere. So far, 50 nations plus the EU have ratified the United Nations High Seas Treaty that commits countries to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Another nine need to ratify it for it to become operational. The UK government has said it will ratify the treaty by the end of the year.
Sky News
15-06-2025
- Science
- Sky News
Octopus boom along England's southwest coast down to 'perfect storm'
Why you can trust Sky News Octopuses, sharks and tuna that are booming in the sea around the UK could be part of a fundamental shift in the marine environment, a leading scientist has told Sky News. Dr Simon Thomas, from the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said a perfect storm of factors, including climate change and overfishing, is leading to a rapid change in the species being found around the coast. "Since 2016, you've seen a lot of our traditional fish, like cod, ling and pollock decreasing in numbers and pushing northwards," he said. "Then we've seen other fish, especially things like bluefin tuna and blue sharks, being found in huge numbers in the water here. "It's almost like you've seen a complete shift in the regime of the ocean." Fishermen on the south coast of Devon and Cornwall are currently catching huge numbers of a large octopus species that is normally rare in the UK. "I've never seen anything like it in my lifetime," said Dr Thomas. "I've spent 40 years at sea and probably seen three or four of the big octopus over the years. Now they are seen regularly and (crab fishermen) are reporting their pots have been decimated." The octopuses are raiding crab and lobster pots for an easy meal. But there are so many of them, and they are so hungry, that fishermen say they are eating not only the bait and crustaceans, but also, at times, each other. Sam Jago, skipper of the Bosloe, returned to Plymouth after a day's fishing with 11 crates of octopuses - a 400kg bonanza that could fetch almost £3,000 at market rates. But he had just over one tub of crabs and lobsters - when normally he'd have more than a dozen. "They crack the shell and suck everything out of it," he said. "It's a quick buck at the moment, but who knows how long it's going to last for. "They will stay here until they've eaten everything. "But if the octopus go, the crab isn't going to just appear out of thin air. "We won't have a great deal to catch." The Marine Biological Association is studying factors that could underpin the surge in octopus numbers. The sea around the UK is around 2C warmer than normal. But in the southwest of England the temperature is 3C or even 4C above average for the time of year. Dr Thomas said warmer waters increase survival of young octopus fry over winter, and a change to ocean currents could bring them more food. 'The ocean is changing' Overfishing of species that would normally eat young octopuses may also mean more are surviving to adulthood. "There is no doubt that the ocean is changing," he said. "Fishermen are like the canaries in the coal mine, the first to see things changing out at sea." Scientists say protecting key parts of the ocean as marine nature reserves would serve as a buffer against pressures from human activity elsewhere. So far, 50 nations plus the EU have ratified the United Nations High Seas Treaty that commits countries to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030. Another nine need to ratify it for it to become operational.
