A study has been launched to understand why fishermen in the West Country have noticed a surge in the common octopus this year.

The increased sightings have sparked a collaboration between Plymouth City Council, Devon County Council, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to investigate the causes and consequences.

This comes after the alarm was raised over an octopus 'invasion' described to be decimating crab numbers , with some fishermen reporting a 50% reduction in hauls.

Dr Bryce Stewart of the Marine Biological Association (MBA) is leading the project, supported by scientists from Plymouth University and Plymouth Marine Laboratory.

The leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Tudor Evans, said: “Almost overnight, our local potters saw their usual c

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