Growing taste for octopus sparks Greek fishing crisis

A dramatic cry of “Octopus!” echoes across the deck of the Sea Eagle vessel as its crew hauls a plastic pot from the seabed off northern Greece, revealing a squirming cephalopod.

- STELIOS MISINAS RENEE MALTEZOU

The creature, moments earlier ensnared in an illegal trap, stretches its tentacles before being gently returned to the waters of the Aegean Sea.

Since early July, volunteers from the campaign group Sea Shepherd, supported by regional authorities, have removed thousands of illegal traps, liberating more than 1,500 octopuses. Their mission aims to combat illegal overfishing, which not only imperils octopus populations but also contributes indirectly to marine pollution in Greek waters.

Despite these successes, campaigners and authorities estimate a staggering half a million octopus traps remain on the seabed in northern Greece. That is testament to the escalating demand for octopus among European diners.