ABSTRACT. –The spawning grounds of Sepia officinalis generally occur within shallow or intertidal coastal waters which experience hydrodynamically unstable conditions. Embryonic and early life stages (ELS), laid at different times or locations, can experience a wide range of physico-chemical and environmental conditions. Water temperature, salinity, light intensity, photoperiod, oxygen saturation and pollution are all part of a suite of physico-chemical factors and cues that can influence biological parameters during the ELS development of S. officinalis. These biological parameters include, but are not limited to, the duration of embryonic development, the rate of hatching, the rate of post-embryonic growth and the survival of early life stages. In order for embryonic and early life stage S. officinalis to survive in the hydrodynamically unstable conditions encountered at spawning grounds an early sensory system that is capable of regulating their development in response to osmoregulation, oxygenation or dehydration stresses, caused by physico-chemical factors, is essential. The degree to which it can respond or adapt to the physico-chemical cues encountered may account for a significant proportion of the variation in temporal (e.g. among year) and spatial (e.g. among spawning sites) survival of embryonic and early life stage S. officinalis. Recent research focusing on the potential impacts of climate change (e.g. ocean warming and ocean acidification) on the magnitude of these physico-chemical cues and how this may affect embryonic and ELS development of S. officinalis is also discussed in order to help us to understand the future impacts of climate change on these vulnerable life stages.