In a rare occurrence, fishermen found three 'blanket octopus' species in different areas of the country's waters this week, the WWF-Pakistan said Tuesday.

WWF-Pakistan trained fishermen recorded three specimens of blanket octopus from different spots along the Sindh and Balochistan coast this week. A 0.8-metre long blanket octopus was recorded by Captain Saeed Badshah from offshore waters of Balochistan on Dec 7, 2019. This was the first live authentic report of this octopus species from Pakistani waters. While fishing 45 nautical miles south of Ormara, Balochistan fishermen caught the octopus in gillnet. Considering it a new and rare find, they released it safely back into the waters.

The second specimen was reported by Captain Ameer Rehman and was caught about 103 nautical miles southwest of Ghora Bari, Sindh on 8 December 2019. This one meter long specimen was also released back into waters. Further, a third fisherman Captain Hasnat Khan who was also trained by WWF-Pakistan caught a blanket octopus about 92 nautical miles southwest of Cape Monz at the confluence of Sindh and Balochistan on 9 December 2019. This octopus was about 0.8-metre long and was released back immediately. These WWF-Pakistan trained fishermen have also released turtles, whales, dolphins, whale sharks, sunfish and other animals back into waters in the past.

Muhammad Moazzam Khan, Technical Advisor (Marine Fisheries), WWF-Pakistan pointed out that blanket octopi (Tremoctopus violaceus) are oceanic cephalopods, which are found in surface to mid-waters in subtropical and tropical oceans. They are known as blanket octopus because of their long, transparent web that connects the dorsal and dorsolateral arms of adult females. The female octopus can reach 2 metres in length, whereas males are much smaller (2.4 cm). He also shared that when threatened, the female octopus unfurls her large net-like membranes that spread out and billow in the water, largely increasing her apparent size; thus avoiding predation by fish and other animals. These animals also use ink to intimidate potential predators.

Khan informed that blanket octopus feed on free-floating (pelagic) gastropods and small fishes, however, their occurrence in wide areas along Pakistan cannot be attributed to any specific factor. He shared that recently a large bloom of jellyfish (Crambionellaorsini) has been reported from offshore waters of Pakistan. "There is possibility that the blanket octopus are feeding on this jellyfish or might have some other biological association," he added.

A number of species of octopus occur in Pakistani waters but four species are common. Of these, the common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and veined octopus (Amphiocto-pusmarginatus) are commercially harvested in Pakistan. It is estimated that during 2018, 950 metric tons of octopus was exported from Pakistan to Southeast Asian countries. Dr Babar Khan, Director Wildlife, and Regional Head Sindh and Balochistan, WWF-Pakistan considered the occurrence of blanket octopus an important addition to the cephalopod fauna of Pakistan. "Although this is a first record reported from Pakistani waters, but it can help in finding the remaining population of this unique cephalopod," he added.