Fishermen, snorkelers and divers off the south coast of Cornwall have reported seeing a surge in octopus numbers, prompting conservationists to say it could be evidence of a rare population boom.
Divers are reporting an increase in common octopus in Cornwall’s waters, particularly around the Lizard Peninsula, according to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust.
At the same time, local fishermen said they caught large numbers in their lobster and cuttlefish traps, with one fisherman from Mewagisi reporting catching 150 in one day, compared to his usual catch of one or two a year.
The large body of a common octopus
(Shannon Moran)
“I was really excited when I started getting messages from our divers, not only because sightings of these striking animals are rare, but because they’ve seen several of them on one dive,” said Matt Slater, marine conservation officer at the Cornwall Wildlife Trust. nature, in a statement announcement of observations.
“They are such amazing alien creatures – some of the most intelligent animals in our oceans – and it would be amazing to witness a population explosion in our local waters,” he added.
The common octopus is rarely seen in UK waters and is only recorded by the trust twice a year. They are highly intelligent creatures with soft pouch-like bodies and eight long arms, with rows of suckers. They usually feed on crabs and can change color to better blend in with their environment to avoid detection, according to the charity The Wildlife Trusts.
Octopus population booms are rare but not unheard of, according to the trust. The last boom in England was in 1948, when sightings of octopuses were reported along the south coast from Land’s End to Sussex.
Before that, the last time a boom was reported was in 1899, according to the trust.
It remains unclear whether the increased sightings are a one-time spike or whether octopus populations are steadily increasing, Mr Slater said.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust said octopus populations had fluctuated for decades.
The reason for the jump in numbers is not yet known, but the trust says female octopuses lay between 100,000 and 50,000 eggs and that although many usually die, if conditions are right, many can survive – leading to a boom .
Rising sea temperatures could also speed up their already rapid growth rates, but not enough research has been done to say for sure, he added.
Add Comment