Brixham Fish Market sees surge in Mediterranean octopus landings

Brixham Fish Market is seeing a fresh surge in Mediterranean octopus, with a large increase in daily landings, the market has told the Torbay Weekly.

This is the second year that the octopus has made a significant appearance at Brixham, with the latest influx following a pattern seen last year.

The Mediterranean octopus, scientifically known as Octopus vulgaris and commonly referred to as the common octopus, is caught by fishing vessels using traditional methods such as trawling and pots.

Barry Young, Managing Director of Brixham Trawler Agents, said: “Some vessels are targeting octopus, while others are catching them alongside their usual catch. Both contribute to the landings at the market.”

“Over the past couple of weeks, we have seen daily volumes increase considerably compared with the summer months.”

“Last week, total landings exceeded 100 tonnes across the week.”

“This appears to follow a similar pattern to last year, when landings increased at the beginning and end of the year, but declined during the summer months.”

According to the market, the quality of the latest catches has also been exceptional, with some impressive volumes passing through the auction.

Mr Young also shared his thoughts on why the species has returned in such significant numbers.

He said: “The large volumes of Mediterranean Octopus arriving at Brixham are thought to be linked to warmer sea temperatures and changing environmental conditions.”

“These conditions may support better breeding success and survival, while ocean currents may also influence the movement of young octopus into UK waters.”

“Although similar conditions are thought to have contributed to last year’s influx, research appears to be ongoing to understand why these large numbers are occurring and whether this pattern will continue.”

Mr Young also explained where the octopus is distributed following its arrival at Brixham. He said: “The octopus is attracting strong demand from European markets, where octopus is a popular seafood.”

“While much of the octopus landed at Brixham is exported, some does stay in the UK.”

“It’s great to see more restaurants in Devon adapting their menus to include locally landed octopus, helping to make the most of the catch and giving diners the opportunity to enjoy this seafood closer to home.”

“It’s encouraging to see local chefs embracing it and creating more demand for a product landed right here in Brixham.”

Barry explained that it is difficult to put a single price on octopus, as their value depends on several factors He said: “Prices vary depending on factors such as quality, availability and market demand, so we wouldn’t give a single representative price.”

With octopus landings rising for a second consecutive year, Brixham is cementing its role as a key landing point for the growing octopus trade, with the coming weeks and months likely to reveal whether the latest surge is here to stay.