United Kingdom faces octopus plague as species expands to Scotland

A massive expansion of the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) is affecting the United Kingdom, spreading from the English coasts of Devon and Cornwall to Scotland and Wales. Researchers from the Marine Biological Association (MBA) and the University of Plymouth report that the species is now breeding successfully in these northern waters, with juveniles and eggs being detected in areas previously too cold for the species to sustain itself.

The phenomenon has caused significant disruption to the local fishing industry. Fishermen in the southwest of England report that the octopus population is devastating lobster and crab stocks, with some days resulting in a 90% to 100% loss of catch in traps. While octopus explosions have occurred in British waters several times over the last 125 years, scientists suggest the current event is uniquely extensive and distinct due to its self-sustaining nature in higher latitudes, likely driven by marine heatwaves and ocean currents.