2025 Proclaimed 'The Octopus Year' Off England's South Coast.

Exceptionally high sightings of one of the world's most intelligent invertebrates this past summer have led to the designation of 2025 as “the year of the octopus” in a yearly report of Britain’s seas.

A Perfect Storm Leading to an Explosion

An unusually warm winter coupled with an exceptionally warm spring prompted unprecedented numbers of common octopuses (*Octopus vulgaris*) to settle along the shores from Cornwall to Devon, spanning the Cornish and Devonian coasts.

“The reported landings was roughly 13 times what we would usually anticipate in this region,” explained an ocean conservation expert. “Calculating the figures, nearly a quarter of a million octopuses were caught in UK waters this year – that’s a huge increase from historical averages.”

The Mediterranean octopus is found in UK waters but typically so rare it is rarely seen. A population bloom is caused by the dual effect of gentle winter conditions and a warm breeding season. These ideal conditions meant a higher survival rate for young, potentially supported by abundant stocks of a favored prey species seen in the area.

A Rare Phenomenon

The last time, an octopus bloom comparable was observed in the mid-20th century, with past documentation indicating the one before that occurred in 1900.

The huge numbers of octopuses meant they could be readily observed in shallow waters for a rare occurrence. Video footage show octopuses congregating together – unlike their typical solitary behavior – and ambulating along the ocean floor on their tentacle tips. A curious octopus was even recorded reaching for a diver's camera.

“During a first dive there this year I saw five of these creatures,” they noted. “They are sizeable. We have two species in the region. The curled octopus is rather small, about the size of a football, but these newcomers can be reaching impressive sizes.”

Predictions and Marine Joy

Another mild winter going into 2026 meant it was possible a repeat event next year, because historically, under these conditions, events have occurred consecutively for two years running.

“Still, the chances are low, looking at history, that it will become a permanent fixture,” they said. “Marine life is unpredictable these days so it’s hard to forecast.”

The assessment also highlighted other “surprises, successes and joyful moments” along the coast, including:

• A record number of grey seals observed in Cumbria.
• Record numbers of puffins on an island off Wales.
• A first-ever sighting of an unusual mollusc in Yorkshire, usually found in the south-west.
• A type of blenny discovered off the coast of Sussex for the first time.

Not All Positive News

Not everything was good news, however. “The calendar year was marked by marine incidents,” said a head of marine conservation. “A significant shipping incident in March and a spill of plastic pollution off the southern coast highlighted ongoing threats. Dedicated individuals are making huge efforts to safeguard and rehabilitate our coasts.”