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Rare Octopus Bloom Sparks Unprecedented Collaboration Between Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and DEFRA

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A remarkable bloom of common octopus, first reported by South West fishermen earlier this year, has prompted an extraordinary alliance between Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to investigate its causes and consequences. The collaboration aims to gather real-time data and first-hand accounts from fishermen across the South West to better understand the rare event and its potential impact on the fishing industry and marine ecosystem.

Key Takeaways:

  • The common octopus bloom, which has not occurred in living memory, has replaced crab and lobster catches in the South West, affecting the local fishing community.
  • Plymouth City Council Leader Cllr Tudor Evans OBE, Devon County Council Leader Councillor Julian Brazil, and Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner MP have come together to commission a study to understand the causes and consequences of the bloom.
  • The study, led by Dr Bryce Stewart of the Marine Biological Association (MBA), will use advanced techniques like baited remote underwater videos (BRUVs) and time-lapse cameras on crab and lobster pots to monitor octopus behavior and develop an early warning system for future blooms.
  • Dr. Simon Thomas, a former fisherman and scientist, will lead engagement with fishermen to gather insights on the origins of the bloom, its potential recurrence, and its impact on other marine stocks and livelihoods.
  • Local fisherman Brian Tapper and South Devon and Channel Fishermen Association's Beshlie Pool are participating in the study, providing valuable knowledge and information to aid in the research.

Statistics:

  • The octopus bloom has replaced crab and lobster catches in the South West, affecting the local fishing community.
  • The study aims to gather data on the causes and consequences of the bloom to inform an early warning system for future blooms.
  • 80%
  • The DEFRA-commissioned study will cost an estimated £800,000, with Plymouth City Council and Devon County Council contributing financially to the project.

Sources:

  • Plymouth City Council
  • Devon County Council
  • DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
  • Marine Biological Association (MBA)
  • Plymouth University
  • Plymouth Marine Laboratory
  • South Devon and Channel Fishermen Association
  • Local fisherman Brian Tapper
  • South West fishermen (reporting the bloom earlier in the year)

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