How does science explain this phenomenon? We interviewed marine biologist Julien Dupre

For several months, octopuses ravaged the bottom of the Atlantic coast. Lobsters, muffins, scallops, no species are immune to the predatory appetite of cephalopods. A huge loss of profits for fishermen in western France because octopuses sometimes end up in traps and devouring fish. An unexpected new competition disrupts the marine ecosystem and the fishing economy.

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To understand where this phenomenon comes from and what solutions there may be, we interviewed Julien Dubreuil, a marine biologist from Quimper and project manager for the Regional Commission for Marine Fisheries and Marine Education (CRPMEM) in Brittany.

Julien Dubrell, have you noticed octopus cultivation?

We are clearly in a very special year compared to the last historical series. The phenomenon of octopus reproduction has already been documented, and we have some in the scientific literature in the 1950s and 1960s. I standardize the latest Morbihan releases. Important numbers like these, We haven’t seen any data in the last decade. We’re 20 times bigger than last year and so with really amazing payloads.

What are the reasons for this spread?

What makes this spread likely is the favorable aquatic climatic conditions that allowed the species to successfully reproduce last year. The created species have seen more juveniles reaching adulthood and because they are a very fast-growing species, they do not live very long. Octopuses usually live between one and two years and must grow very quickly and therefore eat a lot. It has a digestive system that adapts to eating large amounts of food, especially oysters, crustaceans, shrimp, crabs, scallops, glasses and oysters. It is the target staple food.

How do we protect these resources and fishing companies?

It’s very complicated. There are several axes to work with. Yes, we are obligated to adapt the management. Talking about the first scallop deposits in Morbihan, which opened this week [mi-octobre 2021, NDLR]Management was fully adapted, fewer licenses granted, fewer hunting days on the annual calendar and less hunting time. It’s a much-needed adaptation to the fact that there are fewer shells in the sediment.

Another basic need is the ability to track down all these predators and bring them back. The octopus must be brought back, either with a shovel, trap or trawl. It has commercial value and above all what must be understood is that the ground octopus is an octopus that no longer eats shellfish on site. That is why I told you about government support, it is necessary to alert them and make the regulations more flexible.