Monitoring on 244 artificial dens from 2011-2013 in the Sardinian Sea, showed that
Octopus vulgaris (Cephalopoda: Octopoda) chose them as shelters (40.72%), staying inside (86.67%)
or leaving only signs of its occupation (13.33%). The 58.97% of the dens with animals inside had
spawning females, with their eggs completed the embryological development. These preliminary results
suggest the use of artificial dens in fishing management to protect the octopus stock
