The Department of the Environment, Sustainability, Heritage and Climate Change has implemented a temporary ban on the collection of Octopus as from yesterday, Monday 28th April to Friday 9th June 2025, both dates inclusive. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

After the 9th June, the maximum catch limit will be restricted to 5 kilograms per person or vessel per day for a period of 3 weeks. The maximum catch restriction will therefore be enforced from the 10th June to the 1st July 2025, both dates inclusive. 

The objective of the temporary prohibition is to protect Common Octopus at a time when they are laying eggs and so improve breeding success. This is the ninth consecutive year that the conservation measure will be implemented. The measure builds on the introduction of a minimum weight (1.5kg) for Common Octopus caught in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.