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| Fears octopus 'invasion' is 'decimating' shellfish industry | Fears octopus 'invasion' is 'decimating' shellfish industry |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Barry Young holds up a caught octopus at Brixham Fish Market | Barry Young holds up a caught octopus at Brixham Fish Market |
| Some fishermen in south-west England say an "invasion" of octopus and a local bylaw are "decimating" the Devon shellfish industry. | Some fishermen in south-west England say an "invasion" of octopus and a local bylaw are "decimating" the Devon shellfish industry. |
| The octopus, usually found in the Mediterranean, are being found in lobster and crab pots off the coastline. Fishers said they were landing between four and six tonnes of them a day. | The octopus, usually found in the Mediterranean, are being found in lobster and crab pots off the coastline. Fishers said they were landing between four and six tonnes of them a day. |
| They said open escape holes in pots for juvenile shellfish, enforced by the bylaw, allowed the creatures in and out to eat shellfish, and fishers wanted to close the gaps. | They said open escape holes in pots for juvenile shellfish, enforced by the bylaw, allowed the creatures in and out to eat shellfish, and fishers wanted to close the gaps. |
| The authority responsible for implementing the bylaw said the holes could be closed if fishers were trying to catch octopus only, and it was working on trying to find a long-term solution. | The authority responsible for implementing the bylaw said the holes could be closed if fishers were trying to catch octopus only, and it was working on trying to find a long-term solution. |
| 'It's like McDonald's' | 'It's like McDonald's' |
| It is thought the octopuses are coming from Morocco, as fishermen there are reporting a shortage of the creatures. | It is thought the octopuses are coming from Morocco, as fishermen there are reporting a shortage of the creatures. |
| Under the unique bylaw for Devon's waters, some types of crab pots must have "escape holes" as a conservation requirement to allow younger shellfish to escape. | Under the unique bylaw for Devon's waters, some types of crab pots must have "escape holes" as a conservation requirement to allow younger shellfish to escape. |
| Fishers said such escape holes were allowing octopus to enter, devour crabs and leave, resulting in empty pots and no catch for the day. | Fishers said such escape holes were allowing octopus to enter, devour crabs and leave, resulting in empty pots and no catch for the day. |
| Plymouth crab fisherman Brian Tapper said: "The octopus are ruining us... [They are] coming into the crab pots by the side hatch and it's like McDonald's for them. | Plymouth crab fisherman Brian Tapper said: "The octopus are ruining us... [They are] coming into the crab pots by the side hatch and it's like McDonald's for them. |
| "They go through 50 pots and all you get in here are empty shells." | "They go through 50 pots and all you get in here are empty shells." |
| Brian Tapper says any octopus that gets inside a crab pot leaves behind only empty shells | Brian Tapper says any octopus that gets inside a crab pot leaves behind only empty shells |
| Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, described the influx as "an invasion" and said the octopus were "decimating the crab fishery at the minute". | Barry Young, of Brixham Trawler Agents, described the influx as "an invasion" and said the octopus were "decimating the crab fishery at the minute". |
| "At this morning's auction, we got 27 tonne of these Mediterranean octopus. We would normally be lucky to get 500kg [1,100lb]," he said. | |
| "Long term, it could be devastating for the selfish industry in the UK if these octopus stay. | |
| "Unless we see a reduction in these octopus, we won't see any shellfish." | |
| There are also concerns about a shortage of crabs, scallops and lobsters in restaurants and fishmongers. | There are also concerns about a shortage of crabs, scallops and lobsters in restaurants and fishmongers. |
| However, other fishers are welcoming the arrival, as they fetch a high price when sold in Europe. | However, other fishers are welcoming the arrival, as they fetch a high price when sold in Europe. |
| 'Short-term action' | 'Short-term action' |
| The escape gaps regulation was placing local fishermen at a significant disadvantage compared to their Cornish counterparts, fishers also argued. | The escape gaps regulation was placing local fishermen at a significant disadvantage compared to their Cornish counterparts, fishers also argued. |
| The Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is responsible for implementing the bylaw. | The Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority (IFCA) is responsible for implementing the bylaw. |
| It said it had listened to the concerns and held an emergency meeting at the end of last week. | It said it had listened to the concerns and held an emergency meeting at the end of last week. |
| It said it was aware of the current significant difficulties being experienced due to the "predation of octopus within shellfish pots". | It said it was aware of the current significant difficulties being experienced due to the "predation of octopus within shellfish pots". |
| It has agreed to short-term action, allowing fishermen to close the escape hatches, as long as they are only fishing for octopus at the time, and release any crabs or lobsters caught. | It has agreed to short-term action, allowing fishermen to close the escape hatches, as long as they are only fishing for octopus at the time, and release any crabs or lobsters caught. |
| It said it was in the process of gathering information and evidence, which would be presented to IFCA's bylaw and permitting sub-committee on 26 June, when issues relating to the octopus industry would be considered in more depth. | It said it was in the process of gathering information and evidence, which would be presented to IFCA's bylaw and permitting sub-committee on 26 June, when issues relating to the octopus industry would be considered in more depth. |
| Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. |