🔗 Share this article 2025 Hailed as 'The Octopus Year' Along Britain's South Coast. Exceptionally high observations of one of the world's most intelligent invertebrates over the summer months have prompted the naming of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in a yearly report of UK coastal waters. A Perfect Storm Leading to an Explosion A mild winter followed by a very warm springtime prompted a huge population of *Octopus vulgaris* to establish themselves along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts. “The scale of the catch was roughly over a dozen times what we would normally expect in Cornish waters,” stated a marine conservation officer. “When we added up the numbers, approximately 233,000 octopuses were present in British seas this year – representing a massive jump from historical averages.” The common octopus is native to British seas but ordinarily in such small numbers it is rarely seen. A sudden increase is attributed to the dual effect of gentle winter conditions and a warm breeding season. This perfect scenario meant more larvae, potentially supported by large numbers of spider crabs noted in recent years. An Uncommon Occurrence The last time, a population surge of this scale of this size was observed in the 1950s, with archival data indicating the last bloom prior to that was in 1900. The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be readily observed in shallow waters for the first time in living memory. Video footage show octopuses being sociable – contrary to their normally lone nature – and ambulating along the seabed on their arm ends. One individual was even filmed grabbing submarine recording equipment. “On my initial dive there this year I saw five of these creatures,” the officer added. “They are large specimens. We have two species in UK waters. One species is rather small, football-sized, but these newcomers can be up to a metre and a half wide.” Predictions and Marine Joy Another mild winter going into 2026 could lead to another surge in 2026, because based on records, in similar situations, events have occurred consecutively for two years in a row. “However, it is unlikely, based on past events, that it will persist indefinitely,” they said. “But the sea keeps giving us surprises these days so it’s a very uncertain scenario.” The report also highlighted additional positive marine news across British shores, including: A record number of grey seals recorded in Cumbria. Peak numbers of the iconic seabirds on an island off Wales. A first-ever sighting of the *Capellinia fustifera* nudibranch in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west. A variable blenny spotted off the coast of Sussex for the inaugural time. A Note of Caution Not everything was good news, however. “The year was bookended by environmental disasters,” stated an expert. “A major tanker collision in the North Sea and a spill of industrial pellets off the Sussex coast highlighted ongoing threats. Conservation teams are working tirelessly to safeguard and rehabilitate our coasts.”
Exceptionally high observations of one of the world's most intelligent invertebrates over the summer months have prompted the naming of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in a yearly report of UK coastal waters. A Perfect Storm Leading to an Explosion A mild winter followed by a very warm springtime prompted a huge population of *Octopus vulgaris* to establish themselves along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts. “The scale of the catch was roughly over a dozen times what we would normally expect in Cornish waters,” stated a marine conservation officer. “When we added up the numbers, approximately 233,000 octopuses were present in British seas this year – representing a massive jump from historical averages.” The common octopus is native to British seas but ordinarily in such small numbers it is rarely seen. A sudden increase is attributed to the dual effect of gentle winter conditions and a warm breeding season. This perfect scenario meant more larvae, potentially supported by large numbers of spider crabs noted in recent years. An Uncommon Occurrence The last time, a population surge of this scale of this size was observed in the 1950s, with archival data indicating the last bloom prior to that was in 1900. The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be readily observed in shallow waters for the first time in living memory. Video footage show octopuses being sociable – contrary to their normally lone nature – and ambulating along the seabed on their arm ends. One individual was even filmed grabbing submarine recording equipment. “On my initial dive there this year I saw five of these creatures,” the officer added. “They are large specimens. We have two species in UK waters. One species is rather small, football-sized, but these newcomers can be up to a metre and a half wide.” Predictions and Marine Joy Another mild winter going into 2026 could lead to another surge in 2026, because based on records, in similar situations, events have occurred consecutively for two years in a row. “However, it is unlikely, based on past events, that it will persist indefinitely,” they said. “But the sea keeps giving us surprises these days so it’s a very uncertain scenario.” The report also highlighted additional positive marine news across British shores, including: A record number of grey seals recorded in Cumbria. Peak numbers of the iconic seabirds on an island off Wales. A first-ever sighting of the *Capellinia fustifera* nudibranch in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west. A variable blenny spotted off the coast of Sussex for the inaugural time. A Note of Caution Not everything was good news, however. “The year was bookended by environmental disasters,” stated an expert. “A major tanker collision in the North Sea and a spill of industrial pellets off the Sussex coast highlighted ongoing threats. Conservation teams are working tirelessly to safeguard and rehabilitate our coasts.”