AN INVASION of octopuses is threatening Scotland's lucrative trade in lobsters.

AN INVASION of octopuses is threatening Scotland's lucrative trade in lobsters.

West coast fishermen are reporting regularly catching hundreds of the creatures, normally found in the Mediterranean, in their daily catch.

While some have turned to selling them - they fetch around the same price as cod on the Continent - others fear the octopuses are beginning to dent both the stocks of lobsters and their bait.

Duncan MacInnes, secretary of the Western Isles Fishermen's Association, said: "Once fishermen were lucky to see, let alone catch an octopus, now they are finding up to 300 at a time as the creatures invade creels in search of the bait used for lobsters and crabs. With its tentacles, an octopus can suffocate a lobster. We're losing as many as 40 a day."

The type of octopus most common in Scots waters is the Eledone Cirrhosa or curled octopus. It is thought rising sea temperatures is encouraging them northward from their traditional home in southern Europe.

Dr Anushka Miller, of the Scottish Association of Marine Science, said: "There is a lot of ocean traffic now that brings new species in."

Craig Burton, of industry body Seafish, added: "Octopuses are canny, wily wee souls who tend to distract the lobster from the front and attack it from the rear."