Written Question·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·UIN 52443

Octopuses: Plymouth

Tabled: 14 May 2025
Answered: 21 May 2025

Question

Fred Thomas

LabourPlymouth Moor View

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the (a) increase in biomass of Octopus vulgaris and (b) their predation of shellfish in pots at sea on the livelihoods of (i) c

Answer

Daniel Zeichner
I recently visited the fishing industry in Plymouth and was made aware of reports of an unusual abundance of octopus in the Southwest including Cornwall. Defra understands this ‘octopus bloom’ is impacting shellfish potting fisheries and causing concern t...

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