2025 Hailed as the 'Year of the Octopus' Off England's South Coast.
Exceptionally high observations of a supremely intelligent sea creature this past summer have resulted in the naming of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in an annual review of Britain’s seas.
A Confluence of Factors for a Population Boom
A gentle winter and then an exceptionally warm spring triggered a huge population of *Octopus vulgaris* to settle along the southern coastline of England, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts.
“The volume of octopuses caught was approximately 13 times what we would normally expect in the waters around Cornwall,” explained an ocean conservation expert. “When we added up the numbers, around 233 thousand octopuses were found in British seas this year – representing a massive jump from historical averages.”
*Octopus vulgaris* is indigenous to British seas but typically so rare it is rarely seen. A sudden increase is attributed to a combination of a mild winter and a warm breeding season. Such favorable circumstances meant a higher survival rate for young, maybe aided by large numbers of spider crabs noted in recent years.
A Historic Event
The last time, a population surge of this scale this significant was recorded in the 1950s, with historical records indicating the previous major event was in 1900.
The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be readily observed in coastal areas for a rare occurrence. Diver videos show octopuses congregating together – unlike their typical solitary behavior – and “walking” along the bottom on the tips of their limbs. A curious octopus was even recorded reaching for submarine recording equipment.
“On my initial dive there this year I saw five of these creatures,” they noted. “And these are big. Two kinds exist in UK waters. One species is quite small, the size of a ball, but these common octopuses can be with a span of 1.5 meters.”
Future Prospects and Other Surprises
Another mild winter heading into next year meant it was possible another surge next year, because based on records, with such patterns, events have occurred consecutively for two years running.
“However, it is unlikely, from previous blooms, that it will become a permanent fixture,” they said. “The ocean is full of surprises currently so it’s hard to forecast.”
The annual review also noted further encouraging coastal sightings along the coast, including:
- A record number of grey seals seen in Cumbria.
- Record numbers of the iconic seabirds on a Welsh island.
- A first-ever sighting of a rare sea slug 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
The year had its low points, however. “The calendar year was marked by marine incidents,” noted a conservation leader. “A major tanker collision in March and a spill of industrial pellets off the Sussex coast served as stark reminders. Staff and volunteers are putting in immense work to defend and heal our shorelines.”
