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How do octopuses affect lobster fisheries?
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cephalopod
Blue-ringed octopus (genus Hapalochlaena).
Octopuses can negatively impact lobster fisheries by entering fishing traps to feed on the captive lobsters, which can result in severe economic losses for the industry.1
As carnivorous cephalopods, octopuses naturally prey on crustaceans, including lobsters and crabs. Their ability to access these traps highlights their role as active predators within their marine ecosystems.21