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Octopus
Latin name: Octopus pallidus
Common name: Pale Octopus
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Wild Caught
Region:
VIC
- In Victoria, octopus is caught using a number of methods, mostly with ‘shelter trap’ pots, as well as a byproduct in pot fisheries targeting rock lobsters, and to a lesser extent in bottom trawl, gillnet and haul seine net fisheries.
- Octopus catch has increased very significantly in recent years and there is not yet evidence to demonstrate that the permitted increase in fishing activity will be sustainable into the future. Their rating has been downgraded to amber as a precaution while we await more information.
- Catch is not reported to the species level but there is currently no indication that serious depletion of any particular species or stock has occurred.
- Formal management arrangements were established in 2020 and efforts are underway to better understand population structure, introduce species-specific management and understand the biological attributes of the main target species - pale octopus.
- There are no serious sustainability concerns at present, provided management is reactive and responsive to new information as it becomes available. The vulnerability of the octopus caught is still considered low because they grow and reproduce quickly, making them resilient to fishing pressure.
- Choose pot or haul seine caught Victorian octopus if possible, as these are a more sustainable choice with much lower impacts on overfished or protected bycatch species, or seafloor habitats.
You can buy octopus either as smaller ‘baby’ octopus, as larger whole specimens, or as individual legs. While cooking octopus can be complicated, it doesn’t have to be. It is well suited to barbecuing, with a light char and a squeeze of lemon complimenting the robust meat. For incredibly tender results, try braising the octopus first. Slow cooking in a sauce of tomato, wine and herbs will tenderise the meat, making a delicious stew to serve with pasta, polenta, or crusty bread.
- Victorian Octopus Fishery and Rock Lobster Fishery (89t in 2018/19, 41t in 2017/18)
The pot and trap method used to catch octopus in Victoria is highly targeted, has very low impacts on seafloor habitats, and fishing poses a low risk to protected species.
Formal management arrangements for the Victorian Octopus fishery were established in 2020 and efforts are underway to better understand population structure, introduce species-specific management and understand the biological attributes of the main target species – pale octopus.
There are no serious sustainability concerns at present, provided management is reactive and responsive to new information as it becomes available. The vulnerability of the octopus caught is still considered low because they grow and reproduce quickly, making them resilient to fishing pressure. However, catches have increased very significantly in recent years and there is not yet evidence to demonstrate that the permitted increase in fishing activity will be sustainable into the future.
This ranking has a strong potential to improve if management arrangements are responsive to the findings of the research currently underway by the Victorian government.
Although there are no robust reporting arrangements for bycatch and discards in place, levels of both are expected to be low in most Victorian octopus fisheries due to the nature of the fishing gear used. Most octopus in Victoria are caught using shelter pots (which are unbaited, attracting octopus by providing habitat), which have no or negligible catch of other species and cause little impact to seafloor habitats. There is a small amount of catch retained as byproduct in baited rock lobster pots and in haul seine nets which also have a more significant level of bycatch and discards. Octopus is also taken in gillnets and bottom trawl fisheries, which can have much higher levels of bycatch and more significant habitat impacts.
Choose pot or haul seine caught Victorian octopus if possible, as these are a more sustainable choice with much lower impacts on overfished or protected bycatch species, or seafloor habitats.
