Australian scientists create octopus survival guide to minimize the impacts of fishing

Octopuses have been around for hundreds of millions of years, but did you know that most only live for a few years, dying soon after mating or laying eggs? Until now that hasn't been a problem, but octopus catches have doubled in recent decades as the world strives to meet the nutritional demands of a rising global population.How do we ensure octopus fisheries remain sustainable, protecting the longevity of this ancient animal while guaranteeing the world doesn't go hungry? An accurate, reliable, cost-effective and easy-to-use method to determine an octopus's age and estimate how fast they grow and reproduce is a good starting point.A team of Australian scientists has now developed the world's first step-by-step practical guide to aging octopus, published in the Marine and Freshwater Research Journal.Using growth rings on octopuses' beaks and stylets (internal shells near their gills) to validate their age, University of South Australia marine scientists have created a practical ...