2025 Hailed as the 'Year of the Octopus' Off England's South Coast.

Unprecedented observations of a remarkably clever cephalopod this past summer have led to the declaration of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in an annual review of Britain’s seas.

A Perfect Storm for a Population Boom

A mild winter coupled with a remarkably hot spring prompted a huge population of *Octopus vulgaris* to settle along England’s south coast, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts.

“The reported landings was of the order of about 13 times what we would usually anticipate in this region,” stated a marine conservation officer. “Based on the totals, approximately 233,000 octopuses were present in these waters this year – which is a significant rise from historical averages.”

The Mediterranean octopus is native to UK waters but typically so rare it is infrequently encountered. A population bloom is the result of the dual effect of a mild winter and favorable spring temperatures. These ideal conditions meant a higher survival rate for young, potentially supported by abundant stocks of a favored prey species noted in recent years.

A Historic Event

The most recent occasion, a population surge of this scale of this size was recorded in the mid-20th century, with historical records indicating the previous major event occurred in 1900.

The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be readily observed in shallow waters for the first time in recent history. Diver videos show octopuses congregating together – unlike their typical solitary behavior – and moving along the seabed on the tips of their limbs. One individual was even seen investigating a diver's camera.

“The first time I dived there this year I saw multiple octopuses,” the officer added. “And these are big. There are two types in UK waters. One species is quite small, the size of a ball, but these newcomers can be reaching impressive sizes.”

Looking Ahead & Coastal Highlights

If conditions remain mild this coming winter could lead to another surge in 2026, because in the past, in similar situations, populations have surged again for two years running.

“Still, the chances are low, from previous blooms, that it will become a permanent fixture,” they cautioned. “The ocean is full of surprises at the moment so it’s quite an unpredictable situation.”

The report also celebrated further encouraging coastal sightings across British shores, including:

• Highest-ever counts of grey seals observed in one northern region.
• Exceptional populations of puffins on Skomer.
• The first recording of an unusual mollusc in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west.
• A type of blenny spotted off the coast of a southern county for the inaugural time.

Not All Positive News

Not everything was good news, however. “The year was bookended by environmental disasters,” said a head of marine conservation. “A major tanker collision in the North Sea and a spill of industrial pellets off the Sussex coast highlighted ongoing threats. Dedicated individuals are putting in immense work to defend and heal our coasts.”