Aug 7, 2026 · 42 min · 12 segments
Since January 2025, thousands of tonnes of common octopus, usually found in the Mediterranean, have been landed by fisherman off the south coast of England. But it’s still not a regular feature on UK…
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Jaega WiseHost
Bryce StewartGuest
Mitch TonksGuest
Barry YoungGuestAlex HunterGuestNickGuest
Chris Legard
Mick GielGuest
Antonio AlderuccioGuestHerveGuest
[gentle music] The Met Office says an exceptionally strong marine heat wave has formed in the seas around parts of England and Wales.
One striking change is the surge in octopus around the southwest of England.
Thousands of tons of common octopus, usually only found in abundance in the Mediterranean Sea and tropical areas, are being caught and sold by UK fishermen.
They rang me on the Sunday night and said, "We've got probably 20 to 30 ton of these octopus," and it was quite a shock.
But while they're having a profound impact on our fishing industry, octopus is still pretty rare on UK menus.
We are incredible creatures of habit, so we're gonna have to do quite a lot, I think, to, to move the British diet, which is pretty static.
I've come to the market to see what's coming in off the boats and get a sense of what it means for the seafood industry as a whole.
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“Octopus are reshaping the food chain dramatically”
“Britain's warming seas are transforming local fisheries”
“An unexpected catch forced the market's adaptation”
“One seafood bloom is rewriting Britain's menus”
“A temporary invasion may become Britain's new normal”
“Guernsey's fishermen describe a painful ecological shift”
“Intelligence complicates the question of eating octopus”
“British diners face seafood's steep learning curve”
“Chefs are reinventing octopus for hesitant diners”
“Could octopus become Britain's next coastal tradition?”
“Chefs reveal the technique behind tender octopus”
“Octopus finally wins over a skeptical chef”
“One clever product may persuade restaurant diners”
