Octopus denting Guernsey's crab stocks

Tuesday, 28 October 2025 06:25

Guernsey's Crab Cabin closes and fishermen and suppliers blame the octopus.

Spider crabs, chancre and lobster are classic Guernsey seafood delicacies and the stuff of restaurant marketing dreams.

But steadily their numbers are decreasing as the seas around the islands warm and octopus move north.

Last week, 24 October, a notice was filed in the Guernsey Press saying that the Crab Cabin, based inland in St Sampsons, had closed.

Island FM has attempted to contact the owners for a response.

Bernie Le Gallais

Heading into St Peter Port with a 'feed' of crabs. Picture Bernie Le Gallais.

Bernie Le Gallais, who owns and runs A1 Crab Supplies in Tower Hill, told us he believes it's partly down to fewer shellfish being caught and landed in Guernsey:

"These octopus turned up around two and a half years ago.

They've decimated stocks of everything from lobsters to crabs, ormers and scallops, they're making a big mess of the whole industry.

I've got three of my main fishing boats in Guernsey now up for sale."

Bernie says the current storms make life even harder as boats are forced to stay in port, and when they do go out, there is little to catch:

"These days they are sometimes going out catching five or six crabs out of 150-200 pots.

"It's just not viable anymore."

Traditionally, the majority of Guernsey's spider and chancre crabs are exported to France and Spain, far bigger consumers of the delicacy.

Interestingly, octopus is rarely off the menu in Spain, whether it is cold with vinaigrette in a tapas bar or seared over coals, so it may be time for Guernsey's restaurants to promote them more and for guests to be less squeamish.