2025 Proclaimed The Year for Octopuses Off Britain's South Coast.

Exceptionally high encounters of a supremely intelligent sea creature during the summer season have led to the declaration of 2025 as the year for octopuses in an annual review of UK coastal waters.

A Perfect Storm Driving a Surge

A mild winter followed by a very warm springtime prompted a huge population of common octopuses (*Octopus vulgaris*) to take up residence along the southern coastline of England, from Penzance in Cornwall to south Devon.

“The volume of octopuses caught was approximately over a dozen times what we would normally expect in Cornish waters,” commented an ocean conservation expert. “Based on the totals, approximately 233,000 octopuses were caught in UK waters this year – representing a massive jump from the norm.”

The common octopus is found in these waters but usually so scarce it is rarely seen. An explosive growth is the result of a combination of gentle winter conditions and favorable spring temperatures. This perfect scenario meant a higher survival rate for young, maybe aided by abundant stocks of spider crabs also recorded.

An Uncommon Occurrence

The last time, an octopus bloom this significant was observed in the 1950s, with historical records indicating the previous major event occurred in 1900.

The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be frequently seen in shallow waters for the first time in living memory. Diver videos show octopuses gathering in groups – they are usually solitary – and moving along the bottom on their arm ends. A curious octopus was even seen investigating submarine recording equipment.

“On my initial dive there this year I saw multiple octopuses,” they noted. “They are large specimens. There are two types in the region. One species is quite small, football-sized, but these newcomers can be reaching impressive sizes.”

Looking Ahead & Coastal Highlights

A second gentle winter going into 2026 suggests the potential a second bloom in 2026, because based on records, under these conditions, populations have surged again for two years running.

“However, it is unlikely, based on past events, that it will persist indefinitely,” they said. “The ocean is full of surprises these days so it’s quite an unpredictable situation.”

The annual review also noted further encouraging coastal sightings around the UK coastline, including:

• Highest-ever counts of grey seals observed in Cumbria.
• Peak numbers of puffins on a Welsh island.
• The initial discovery of a rare sea slug in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west.
• A variable blenny spotted off the coast of a southern county for the first time.

Environmental Concerns

The year had its low points, however. “The year was bookended by marine incidents,” stated an expert. “A major tanker collision in the North Sea and a spill of tonnes of plastic biobeads off the southern coast were serious issues. Conservation teams are putting in immense work to protect and restore our marine habitats.”