Octopus Bloom off the Southwest UK: Key Findings for Commercial Fishermen

The final report on the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) bloom in Southwest UK waters (Work Package 1) has been released, offering important insights into the 2025 event and its impact on the fishing industry, particularly for those targeting shellfish.

Summary of the 2025 Bloom and its Causes:

• The 2025 bloom of common octopus off the Southwest UK coast was confirmed as an exceptional event, comparable in scale to previous blooms in 1899-1900, 1932-33, and 1950-51.
• The total landings of O. vulgaris by the end of 2025 were almost 65 times higher than the annual average between 2017 and 2024.
• High abundance was generally seen from April to July 2025, peaking in May, with a distinct drop in August. However, some vessels again reported very large catches in November and December 2025.
• Environmental analysis consistently associated the 2025 bloom—and all historical blooms—with unusually warm sea and atmospheric temperatures during the peak year and the preceding year. This is thought to have increased breeding success, enhanced overwinter survival of juveniles, and led to rapid growth into adults.
• Modelling suggests that under the prevailing conditions, octopus larvae may have been transported from large blooms in the Channel Islands to the UK coast, potentially contributing to the UK increase.
• Fishermen's observations indicated that movements were a key factor, with reports of octopus moving from offshore to inshore waters as the season progressed.

Impact on the Fishing Industry:

• The bloom had a mixed effect on crab and lobster fishermen, the majority of the survey respondents.

• Negative Impact: 57.6% of crab and lobster fishermen surveyed reported a negative effect on their business between January and August 2025. Predation by octopus on brown crabs (Cancer pagurus), European lobsters (Homarus gammarus), and king scallops (Pecten maximus) in fishing gear and the natural environment was cited as the largest negative effect.
• Positive Impact: 27.3% of the same fishermen reported a positive effect, largely due to their ability to adapt and successfully target octopus instead of shellfish for a period.

• Landings data from ICES area 7e (the area of concentration for the bloom) for January to August 2025 showed significant declines in non-octopus shellfish landings compared to the average for the same period in 2021-2024:
• Brown crab landings dropped by 52%.
• King scallop landings dropped by 52%.
• European lobster landings dropped by 30%.

• Gear Type: Pots were by far the dominant gear used to land octopus, accounting for 68.2% (695 tonnes) of the total landed tonnage from January to August 2025, followed by beam trawls (33.7%, 367 tonnes).

Looking Ahead (Recommendations):

• The chance of the bloom continuing or reoccurring is considered high, given the trend of warmer-than-usual conditions due to climate change.
• Fishermen expressed a need for support to adapt, including:

• New or different gear, especially pots or traps specifically designed to catch octopus.
• Better market access for selling octopus.
• Increased provision of ice and appropriate fish boxes for octopus.
• More adaptable management regulations.

• An urgent investigation into the social and economic impact on affected fishing communities is recommended.
• Further research and monitoring are recommended, including expanding trawl and BRUV surveys, and acoustic tagging of common octopus in the English Channel to better understand any large-scale movement or migration.

You can red the full report from Plymouth Marine Science below or download it here:

Saturday to Monday morning in Newlyn

Saturday morning most boats are port-bound following Storm Ingrid...

though the Govenek of Ladram is nearing the end of her conversion job from gillnetter to pot boat, she's going to be targeting Mediterranean octopus to see out her career...

the fish market and harbour on Monday morning before the sun has put in an appearance...

and the only fish on the market, like this red mullet was from two of the port's biggest beam trawlers, the Billy Rowney...

and the Enterprise, a beautiful brace of gilt-head bream

along with a handful of inshore fish from a few hardy punts that made it to sea over the weekend, mostly from the north coast of Cornwall...

quality flats like these lemons...

monk tails...

haddock...

and brill completed the bulk of landings...

along with a few tubs of octopi...

and a handful of bass...

Wlliam. Henry II has paid Newlyn a visit...

while three lorries line up to whick the morning's haul of fish away...

the morning glow from the sun 30 minutes before sunrise is intense...

as the Stelissa makes her way out of the gaps and a heading taking her east side of the jack-up rig, Seafox 7...

it won't be long before the St Georges and the rest of the fleet head back to sea...

back up the Norh pier it's first chore of the day for Tucker as the day breaks..

 

Cornish Maritime Trust Artist & Photographer Survey

Tim Hall capturing the luggers like Barnabas on canvas down the Old Quay in Newlyn.

CMT Artist & Photographer Survey

The Cornish Maritime Trust has been nominated for a prestigious volunteer award. To evidence the benefit of our work, we want to hear from artists and photographers (whether amateur or professional) who have enjoyed capturing the Trust's historic boats: Barnabas, Silver Stream, Softwing or Ellen.

Please help us with a couple of minutes' feedback via this form. We are especially interested to hear what might be valuable or special about capturing Cornish boats of yesteryear in their natural setting.

Take the survey here:

The CMT is entirely volunteer-led and your input may unlock doors and strengthen our capacity to keep these boats sailing for all to enjoy. 

Thank you for your support! 

Esmé Page

The Cornish Maritime Trust

📸 Vicki Norman, Artist in Residence and CMT Trustee, painting Barnabas and Silver Stream at the Newlyn Sardine Festival in 2025

House of Commons debate on Fishing - Navigating Troubled Waters: The Future of the UK Fishing Industry

Navigating Troubled Waters: The Future of the UK Fishing Industry 

Storm Ingrid batters Newlyn during the debate!

In a Friday's high-stakes session in the House of Commons, MPs gathered to weigh in on the state of the UK’s fishing industry. From the rugged coasts of the Northern Isles to the bustling markets of Cornwall, the debate painted a picture of an industry that is as resilient as it is embattled.

The discussion, led by Mr Alistair Carmichael, moved beyond simple catch quotas to address a fundamental truth: fishing is not just a sector of the economy; it is a matter of national food security.

Key Features of the Debate

The £360 Million Question: Significant focus was placed on the administration of the Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, with heated exchanges over whether the "Barnettization" of the fund unfairly penalized Scottish fishers.

The "Spatial Squeeze": A recurring alarm regarding the loss of traditional fishing grounds to offshore wind farms, marine protected areas, and subsea cables.

A Recruitment Crisis: Concerns were raised about a "visa cliff edge" in 2026, which threatens to leave the fleet without enough crew to operate.

Climate & Ecological Shifts: Extraordinary reports of "octopus blooms" in the south-west and the decline of species like the European eel.

Safety and Mental Health: Recognition of fishing as the UK's most dangerous peacetime occupation, requiring better mentoring and support systems.

The Post-Brexit Reality: Frustration over the 12-year extension of EU access and the "red tape" still strangling seafood exports to France.

A Not-So-Homogeneous Industry

Opening the debate, Mr Alistair Carmichael (LD) was quick to debunk the myth that fishing is a single entity. He noted that the issues facing "inshore crab boats are very different from those facing the larger white-fish boats." He argued that while fishing doesn't always move the needle on national GDP, it is the lifeblood of communities like Shetland, where it accounts for a third of the local economy.

However, the "spatial squeeze" remains a primary threat. Melanie Onn (Lab) pointed out that fishers often feel like an afterthought compared to "big wind development companies," a sentiment echoed by Charlie Dewhirst (Con), who warned that banning certain practices like bottom-trawling in marine protected areas could "destroy the industry overnight."

The Labor Shortage & The 2026 "Cliff Edge"

One of the most pressing concerns was the upcoming change to visa regulations. Jim Shannon (DUP) warned of a "last chance saloon," stating that Northern Ireland’s nephrops fleet relies on non-EU migrant crew for 70% of its labor. Without a bespoke visa route post-2026, he feared the fleet would be "tied up" within years.

Anna Gelderd (Lab) focused on the next generation, advocating for a "mentoring and training pathway" to make fishing a realistic career again. She was supported by Amanda Martin (Lab), who emphasized that sustaining the industry requires clear training routes for young people in coastal communities like Portsmouth.

The Battle of the "Lobster Capitals"

The debate wasn't without its lighter—and more competitive—moments. Charlie Dewhirst (Con) proudly declared Bridlington the "lobster capital of Europe," only to be challenged by John Cooper (Con), who suggested the title actually belongs to Port William.

Beyond the rivalry, Andrew George (LD) brought a modern perspective to animal welfare, noting that since "lobsters are sentient beings," the industry must stay informed on humane supply chain practices.

The Minister’s Response

Responding for the Government, Dame Angela Eagle (Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs) acknowledged the "tough working conditions" and the "dangerous life" fishers lead. She pledged that the government is working to "slash red tape" through a new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU, aimed for completion by late 2027.

Regarding the workforce, she confirmed a meeting with the Home Office to discuss the "visa cliff edge," promising that "the industry will be properly represented."

"Fishing families are hard-working and economically productive people. Take away their ability to earn a living at sea, and they will not just sit idle; they will move with heavy hearts... That will forever change the nature and character of our coastal and island communities." — Mr Alistair Carmichael

The consensus of the House was clear: while the tide is currently against them, with the right strategy and a genuine seat at the table, the UK's fishing communities can still navigate toward a sustainable and profitable future.

The debate was particularly rich in policy recommendations for how the £360 million should be targeted to provide more than just a "sticking plaster."

The debate was particularly rich in policy recommendations for how the £360 million should be targeted to provide more than just a "sticking plaster."

Here is a breakdown of the specific recommendations made by MPs and industry groups during the session:

1. Regional Autonomy: The "Cornish Pilot" Model

Anna Gelderd (Lab) made a strong case for a ring-fenced allocation specifically for Cornwall. She supported the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation's call for a £10 million delegated fund to deliver a "Cornish pilot fishing strategy."

• The Logic: Instead of a top-down approach from London, local producers would manage smaller projects, ensuring money reaches the "places it might not reach" if managed centrally.

• Support: Andrew George (LD) reinforced this, arguing that a delegated fund is the most efficient way to support small-scale, site-specific needs.

2. Investing in "New Blood" & Infrastructure

A major theme was that the fund must look beyond the current generation to ensure the industry's survival.

• Fleet Modernization: Josh Newbury (Lab) and Anna Gelderd argued that previous funding focused too much on maintaining 60-year-old vessels. They proposed using the growth fund to help fishers buy new vessels with safer, modern living quarters and more carbon-efficient engines.

• Help-to-Buy Schemes: To bridge the gap for young people, MPs recommended the fund support "help-to-buy" schemes for boats, licenses, and quotas, which currently act as a financial barrier to entry.

• Mentoring Path: A call was made for a structured mentoring and training pathway to pass on traditional knowledge and safety guidelines to those entering the industry under age 16.

3. The "Barnett Formula" Controversy

The most contentious policy point was how the money is divided between the four nations.

• The Conflict: Seamus Logan (SNP) and Mr Alistair Carmichael (LD) clashed over the fact that Scotland—which accounts for over 60% of the UK’s fishing effort—is receiving only £28 million (approx. 8%) of the fund.

• The Recommendation: Torcuil Crichton (Lab) and others called for a "mechanism outside the Barnett formula" that reflects the actual size and value of the fishing industry in each region, rather than just human population.

4. Scientific Independence & Data Access

MPs argued that the fund should be used to empower fishers to lead their own research.

• Industry-Led Science: Anna Gelderd highlighted the "Pollack FISP" as a model where fishermen work with scientists to provide real-time data. She recommended the fund be used for industry-led science projects so the benefits (and data) stay in local ports like Looe and Newlyn.

• Modern Tools: Melanie Onn (Lab) suggested leveraging the fund to integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) to better analyze the massive amounts of catch data already collected, turning regulatory "red tape" into a tool for better stock management.

5. Market Access and "Social Value" Quotas

• Routes to Market: For isolated ports like Polperro that have seen local markets close, Anna Gelderd urged the Minister to use the fund to secure logistical routes to market, reducing the cost of transporting catch to larger hubs.

• Social Quota Buying: Mr Alistair Carmichael suggested the fund could be used by local authorities to buy up fishing quota and distribute it to new entrants based on "social value" rather than purely to the highest bidder.

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Summary of Funding Priorities

MP Recommendation	Proposed Target	Key Benefit
Anna Gelderd	Cornish Pilot Fund (£10m)	Regional autonomy and local decision-making.
Josh Newbury	New Vessel Grants	Improved safety, profitability, and crew comfort.
Melanie Onn	Public Sector Procurement	Boosting UK fish consumption in schools and the NHS.
Torcuil Crichton	Recruitment Support	Attracting young workers to combat an aging workforce.
Alistair Carmichael	Quota for New Entrants	Breaking the monopoly of "quota barons" for family businesses.

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