Octopus Surge Threatens UK Fishermen
Unprecedented Octopus Bloom Threatens UK Shellfish Industry Veteran fisherman Brian Tapper recently faced a series of unexpected challenges while checking his 1,200 crab pots in the waters off southwest England. During this year’s crabbing season, he encountered an unusual pattern: initially, the pots were nearly empty, then filled with octopuses starting in May, and finally returning to near emptiness over the past month. This phenomenon has been observed along the UK's Devon and southern Cornwall coastlines, where rising sea temperatures have triggered what is being called the largest octopus bloom in British waters in 75 years. The situation has had a significant impact on the shellfish industry, as these tentacled mollusks are known for their voracious appetite, often consuming crustaceans like crabs and other shellfish. Tapper’s wife has already closed her dockside crab processing factory due to the reduced catch, and Tapper himself is uncertain about the future of his busi...