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

Exceptionally high sightings of a supremely intelligent sea creature during the summer season have resulted in the declaration of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in a seasonal assessment of UK coastal waters.

A Perfect Storm for a Population Boom

A gentle winter followed by an exceptionally warm spring triggered a huge population of Mediterranean octopuses to take up residence along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, across the southwestern peninsula.

“The reported landings was roughly over a dozen times what we would usually anticipate in Cornish waters,” stated a marine conservation officer. “Calculating the figures, around 233 thousand octopuses were found in these waters this year – that’s a huge increase from historical averages.”

*Octopus vulgaris* is found in British seas but usually so scarce it is infrequently encountered. An explosive growth is the result of the dual effect of gentle winter conditions and favorable spring temperatures. Such favorable circumstances meant more larvae, maybe aided by large numbers of spider crabs noted in recent years.

An Uncommon Occurrence

The most recent occasion, a population surge of this scale of this size was recorded in 1950, with past documentation indicating the previous major event occurred in 1900.

The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be easily spotted in shallow waters for the first time in recent history. Video footage show octopuses being sociable – contrary to their normally lone nature – and “walking” along the ocean floor on their tentacle tips. A curious octopus was even filmed grabbing an underwater camera.

“On my initial dive off the Lizard peninsula this year I saw five of these creatures,” the specialist continued. “And these are big. There are two types in these waters. The curled octopus is quite small, the size of a ball, but the *Octopus vulgaris* can be reaching impressive sizes.”

Looking Ahead & Coastal Highlights

A second gentle winter this coming winter suggests the potential a second bloom in 2026, because historically, under these conditions, events have occurred consecutively for two consecutive years.

“Still, the chances are low, from previous blooms, that it will become a permanent fixture,” they said. “But the sea keeps giving us surprises currently so it’s quite an unpredictable situation.”

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

• Unprecedented numbers of gray seals seen in Cumbria.
• Record numbers of the iconic seabirds on Skomer.
• The first recording of an unusual mollusc in Yorkshire, normally residing farther south.
• A variable blenny spotted off the coast of Sussex for the first occasion.

A Note of Caution

The year had its low points, however. “The year was bookended by marine incidents,” said a head of marine conservation. “A major tanker collision in the North Sea and an accidental discharge of tonnes of plastic biobeads off the southern coast highlighted ongoing threats. Dedicated individuals are putting in immense work to defend and heal our coasts.”