IBERIAN STUPIDITY (among other things) EXPLAINED BY OCTOPUSES.

While in Spain octopus demand exceeds supply, in the United Kingdom an unprecedented expansion of its population is recorded, reaching previously unexplored coasts.

## The octopus, a scarce commodity on the peninsula
The apparent contradiction between abundance and scarcity is evident in the world of octopus. In Madrid bars, the difficulty in finding this cephalopod on the menu has become a constant, reflecting a demand that far exceeds the available supply. This situation contrasts with news from other latitudes, where the octopus population seems to be booming.

## Unprecedented expansion in British waters
The United Kingdom is witnessing a proliferation of octopuses that scientists describe as unprecedented. The Marine Biological Association has confirmed that the octopus plague has completed its expansion along the entire British coast, formally reaching the coasts of Scotland and Wales. This biological phenomenon has no precedent in historical records.

## Changes in catches and business
Meanwhile, the situation in other areas shows different dynamics. In Galicia, the decline in octopuses is palpable, but in Segarro, a 13% increase in cephalopod catches is expected during the summer of 2026. On the other hand, in the Canary Islands, the octopus business has shifted towards the financial sector, with China dominating transactions and the use of bank guarantees instead of physical landings in ports.