2025 Declared the 'Year of the Octopus' Along England's Southern Shores.

Exceptionally high sightings of a supremely intelligent sea creature over the summer months have prompted the declaration of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in a seasonal assessment of Britain’s seas.

A Perfect Storm for a Population Boom

A mild winter followed by a very warm springtime prompted a huge population of common octopuses (*Octopus vulgaris*) to take up residence along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, across the southwestern peninsula.

“The scale of the catch was of the order of about 13 times what we would normally expect in the waters around Cornwall,” stated a marine conservation officer. “Based on the totals, approximately 233,000 octopuses were caught in UK waters this year – representing a massive jump from the norm.”

The Mediterranean octopus is native to British seas but typically so rare it is infrequently encountered. An explosive growth is caused by the dual effect of a mild winter and favorable spring temperatures. This perfect scenario meant more larvae, possibly in part fuelled by significant populations of spider crabs seen in the area.

An Uncommon Occurrence

Previously, an octopus bloom this significant was documented in the 1950s, with historical records indicating the one before that was in 1900.

The remarkable abundance of octopuses meant they could be easily spotted in nearshore environments for a rare occurrence. Diver videos show octopuses being sociable – unlike their typical solitary behavior – and moving along the seabed on the tips of their limbs. One creature was even seen investigating a diver's camera.

“On my initial dive off the Lizard peninsula this year I saw multiple octopuses,” the specialist continued. “They are large specimens. We have two species in the region. The curled octopus is quite small, the size of a ball, but these newcomers can be with a span of 1.5 meters.”

Looking Ahead & Coastal Highlights

Another mild winter going into 2026 could lead to a repeat event the following year, because in the past, with such patterns, events have occurred consecutively for two years running.

“Still, the chances are low, from previous blooms, that it will persist indefinitely,” they said. “The ocean is full of surprises at the moment so it’s quite an unpredictable situation.”

The annual review also noted other “surprises, successes and joyful moments” around the UK coastline, including:

• A record number of grey seals recorded in one northern region.
• Record numbers of the iconic seabirds on Skomer.
• The first recording of a rare sea slug in Yorkshire, typically a southwestern species.
• A Mediterranean fish species found off the coast of Sussex for the first occasion.

Environmental Concerns

The year had its low points, however. “The period was framed by marine incidents,” noted a conservation leader. “A significant shipping incident in the North Sea and a spill of industrial pellets off the southern coast served as stark reminders. Dedicated individuals are making huge efforts to defend and heal our coasts.”