Problem statement and justification
The decline in fish stocks due to overexploitation has led to the increased use of octopus as an alternative. South coast is one of the Kenyan coastlines where fishing is the major socio-economic activity. The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier1797), is the most important commercially harvested octopus species in the Kenyan south coast (GoK, unpublished Dept. of Fisheries, 2009 report). Up to date, very little has been done to study different dimensions of Octopus vulgaris such as body length and weight, biology and distribution in the Kenyan coast and therefore basic knowledge is still insufficient. Catch assessment studies provide important information necessary for the management and conservation of fish stocks. They provide a scientific advice to decision-makers on the current health and future trends of a fish stock and its fishery. This study therefore aims at contributing to the sustainable management of octopus fishery, by providing information of the catch of Octopus vulgaris in south coast of Kenya. This can only be achieved by carrying out regular and continuous studies on octo
