2025 Proclaimed the 'Year of the Octopus' Along England's South Coast.

Exceptionally high encounters of a remarkably clever cephalopod over the summer months have prompted the declaration of 2025 as the year for octopuses in an annual review of the nation's marine environment.

Ideal Conditions for a Population Boom

A mild winter and then a very warm springtime triggered unprecedented numbers of common octopuses (*Octopus vulgaris*) to settle along England’s south coast, across the southwestern peninsula.

“The volume of octopuses caught was approximately 13 times what we would typically see in the waters around Cornwall,” explained a marine conservation officer. “Calculating the figures, approximately 233,000 octopuses were found in these waters this year – which is a significant rise from historical averages.”

The common octopus is found in UK waters but ordinarily in such small numbers it is infrequently encountered. A sudden increase is the result of a combination of gentle winter conditions and favorable spring temperatures. This perfect scenario meant increased juvenile survival, potentially supported by large numbers of spider crabs seen in the area.

A Historic Event

The most recent occasion, a population surge of this scale of this size was observed in 1950, with past documentation indicating the last bloom prior to that was in the turn of the 20th century.

The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be frequently seen in nearshore environments for a rare occurrence. Diver videos show octopuses congregating together – contrary to their normally lone nature – and “walking” along the seabed on the tips of their limbs. A curious octopus was even filmed grabbing submarine recording equipment.

“During a first dive off the Lizard peninsula this year I saw five of these creatures,” they noted. “They are sizeable. We have two species in the region. The curled octopus is quite small, football-sized, but these common octopuses can be up to a metre and a half wide.”

Predictions and Marine Joy

A second gentle winter going into 2026 suggests the potential another surge the following year, because historically, in similar situations, populations have surged again for two consecutive years.

“Still, the chances are low, based on past events, that it will become a permanent fixture,” they stated. “But the sea keeps giving us surprises currently so it’s a very uncertain scenario.”

The report also highlighted additional positive marine news around the UK coastline, including:

• Highest-ever counts of gray seals recorded in Cumbria.
• Record numbers of puffins on a Welsh island.
• The first recording of the *Capellinia fustifera* nudibranch in a northern county, normally residing farther south.
• A variable blenny spotted off the coast of a southern county for the inaugural time.

Not All Positive News

Not everything was good news, however. “The period was framed by marine incidents,” stated an expert. “A major tanker collision in March and a spill of plastic pollution off the southern coast were serious issues. Staff and volunteers are making huge efforts to defend and heal our marine habitats.”