Summary
Some fishermen in south-west England report finding many octopuses in their lobster and crab pots, which they say is harming the shellfish industry. An existing rule requires escape holes in pots to let young shellfish out, but these holes also let octopuses in to eat the shellfish. The local authority has allowed fishermen to temporarily close escape holes if they're only catching octopuses.
Key Facts
- Fishermen in south-west England say octopuses are damaging the local shellfish industry.
- The octopuses are being found in lobster and crab pots off the Devon coastline.
- A bylaw requires escape holes in these pots to help young shellfish escape, but octopuses also use them to enter.
- Fishermen report catching between four and six tonnes of octopuses daily.
- The octopuses are believed to be coming from Morocco, where fishermen report a shortage.
- Local authorities permitted fishermen to close escape holes if they only target octopuses.
- An emergency meeting was held to address the issue, with ongoing efforts to find a long-term solution.
