Chef may look to England for crab

Dishes are being adapted to include octopus

A Guernsey chef has said he may have to import crab from England after an increase in octopuses which prey on the shellfish.

The octopuses, usually found in the Mediterranean, are being found in lobster and crab pots off the coastline, leading to a shortage of shellfish.

Louis Mason, head chef at Le Nautique restaurant in Guernsey said the trend could be here to stay and dishes were being adapted to include octopus.

"We're having to get whatever we can crab-wise, and eventually I think we'll only be getting it from England at this rate."

Environmental management

The common octopus, octopus vulgaris, thrive in habitats like reefs, rocky ledges, and seagrass beds according to experts.

They may have moved into the area because conditions have improved, perhaps due to greater food availability or improved habitat quality from better environmental management, said Dr Emma Sheehan, associate professor of marine ecology at the University of Plymouth.

"Another factor could be higher survival rates, especially in early life stages, possibly due to milder winters. Reduced fishing pressure may also be playing a role."

Dr Bryce Stewart, a marine ecologist with the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth, said the octopus bloom was likely to be the result of unusually warm sea temperatures and shifting ocean currents, both driven by global climate change.