National Lobster Hatchery
Project Leader: Dominic Boothroyd
Background
Dominic Boothroyd
The National Lobster Hathchery (NLH) in Padstow, Cornwall, UK, aims to encourage the fishing community to adopt a ‘farming’, rather than a ‘hunter gatherer’ attitude, by increasing the involvement of local fisherman in the release of hatchery-reared juvenile lobsters into the wild.
SOSF has been funding a year long project at the (NLH) which has allowed the hatchery to release a significant proportion of its juvenile lobsters into active fisheries throughout Cornwall, forming a crucial step in the progress of the hatchery’s stock enhancement program. At the same time the project has also been developing methods currently employed for releases at sea, which will enable fishermen to release lobsters in their fishing creels or holding cages as part of their everyday working routines, whilst providing lobsters with the best chance of survival in their favored habitats.
SOSF has been funding a year long project at the (NLH) which has allowed the hatchery to release a significant proportion of its juvenile lobsters into active fisheries throughout Cornwall, forming a crucial step in the progress of the hatchery’s stock enhancement program. At the same time the project has also been developing methods currently employed for releases at sea, which will enable fishermen to release lobsters in their fishing creels or holding cages as part of their everyday working routines, whilst providing lobsters with the best chance of survival in their favored habitats.
Results
The reaction from industry has been extremely encouraging with fishermen from 14 ports around the county volunteering to help with the project. After the first 6 months of the project, 10 boats had already released over 4,000 juveniles around the coast.
Press coverage of the work has been extensive and consequently fishermen have taken a much greater interest in the work of the NLH, which in turn has helped achieve even more success than anticipated. An entirely new time-release system is currently under development by the hatchery team, which will help enormously with the aim of continued and sustained stakeholder involvement.
Press coverage of the work has been extensive and consequently fishermen have taken a much greater interest in the work of the NLH, which in turn has helped achieve even more success than anticipated. An entirely new time-release system is currently under development by the hatchery team, which will help enormously with the aim of continued and sustained stakeholder involvement.
To hear an interview with Dominic Boothroyd on Radio 4 click here.
Project Update: 2008
The project that SOSF sponsored last year was a huge success and has continued to impact upon the way we operate this season with fishermen continuing to release juveniles around the coast. The associated press coverage has continued and the work was even discussed on BBC Radio 4 in September.
In terms of juvenile production we released 11,000 lobsters, the majority of which were of three months old or greater; meaning that 2007 was our most successful year to date. Of the 11,000 juveniles more than half were released by the fishing community making the project a great success. A total of 6,220 lobsters were released by 12 different fishermen, fishing from 10 different ports, on both coasts of Cornwall. This is against a target of 5,000 lobsters, released by 6 fishermen, from 5 ports, meaning that we have exceeded all of the measurable outputs of this project by a significant proportion.
The European lobster is an important flagship species that holds the potential to inspire the general public and the fishing industry alike. Consequently the work of the NLH has an important role to play in the promotion of sustainability in fisheries and conservation management.
In terms of juvenile production we released 11,000 lobsters, the majority of which were of three months old or greater; meaning that 2007 was our most successful year to date. Of the 11,000 juveniles more than half were released by the fishing community making the project a great success. A total of 6,220 lobsters were released by 12 different fishermen, fishing from 10 different ports, on both coasts of Cornwall. This is against a target of 5,000 lobsters, released by 6 fishermen, from 5 ports, meaning that we have exceeded all of the measurable outputs of this project by a significant proportion.
The European lobster is an important flagship species that holds the potential to inspire the general public and the fishing industry alike. Consequently the work of the NLH has an important role to play in the promotion of sustainability in fisheries and conservation management.
Project Update: 2007
In terms of juvenile production the NLH was able to release 11,000 lobsters, the majority of which were 3 months old or greater; of these more than half were released by local fisherman, meaning that in terms of numbers and community response 2007 was NLH’s most successful year to date.
Overall, the SOSF supported project was an undoubted success and provides a clear example of how conservation and industry are able to work together when stake-holders are actively encouraged at all levels.
Overall, the SOSF supported project was an undoubted success and provides a clear example of how conservation and industry are able to work together when stake-holders are actively encouraged at all levels.