Species identification of Australia’s most significant octopus fishery – the Western Australian Common Octopus

The Western Australian Octopus Interim Managed Fishery is Australia’s largest octopus fishery. There are 20 vessels operating on a full time or part-time basis, and all are targeting a single species that is currently unnamed and carries the species affinis “Octopus aff. tetricus” instead. This is not ideal as it hinders a proper assessment of its significant contribution to the Australian cephalopod fisheries harvest and limits the capacity to differentiate the product in the marketplace in order to create a distinct branding of the Western Australian octopus fishery into the future. This investment will develop a formal species name and approved common name for Octopus aff. tetricus.