Since its inception in 2000, the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) in Cornwall, UK, has significantly increased the survival rates of the European Lobster by raising hatchlings and releasing them into the ocean to boost wild populations. The hatchery’s collaborative approach, involving researchers, fishermen, and local businesses, showcases the power of community-driven conservation efforts. In this blog, discover how this innovative project is giving the commercially exploited lobster a fighting chance in the wild.

IMAGES & TEXT BY LEWIS JEFFERIES / NATUREPL.COM

Introduction

In the UK, the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) holds the title of the most valuable marine species. Coastal communities depend on it for their livelihoods, yet in almost all lobster populations in the UK, fishing is estimated to be above sustainable levels.  Therefore, to support wild stocks, The National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) in Cornwall, UK, opened its doors in 2000. Since its inception  the NLH has reared hatchlings through their earliest stages, increasing their chances of survival by up to 1,000 times. The hatchlings are then released into the ocean to boost wild populations. The NLH’s collaborative approach, involving researchers, fishermen, and local businesses, showcases the power of community-driven conservation efforts. In this blog, discover how this innovative project is giving the commercially exploited lobster a fighting chance in the wild.

A Lifeline for Lobsters

Dr. Carly Daniels, the head of production, science, and development at NLH, has been with the hatchery since 2004. Her journey began as a volunteer during her Marine Biology degree at Plymouth University. She now leads the hatchery’s latest project, Lobster Grower 2, which tests new techniques to rear hatchlings in natural sea environments.

As she watches mother lobsters’ larvae floating in the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), Carly explains their process: “We receive female lobsters from local fishermen who call us when they land an egg-bearing female or ‘berried hen’. We usually take them in at a later incubation stage, ready to hatch their babies.”

The Lobster Lifecycle

Baby lobsters, in their first 2-4 weeks, are planktonic, floating suspended in the water column. They grow through moulting, shedding their shells and increasing in size. The hatchery rears juveniles through their first four stages in recirculating aquaculture systems that mimic wild conditions.

Once they reach their last larval stage, they are transferred to the Aquahive® systems to prevent cannibalism. “Each Aquahive® can carry around 4,000 animals, with a capacity of over 24,000 in total,” says Carly. At about three months old, they are ready for release, equipped with instincts to burrow and shelter.

Release and Sustainability

Currently, lobsters are released in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly using dive releases and offshore methods. Dive release involves volunteer divers releasing small numbers on suitable reefs, while offshore release allows fishermen to release larger numbers using a lobster floom.

The human population has reached unsustainable numbers. Consequently, there is ever increasing pressure on wild caught fisheries and aquaculture to provide suitable and sustainable protein sources. Lobster demand is rising, and other populations in Scandinavia and the Mediterranean have collapsed due to overfishing. Therefore, the hatchery’s work is crucial to prevent UK stocks from suffering the same fate. By involving local fishermen and restaurants, the NLH fosters a sustainable and productive fishery.

Fishing and V-Notching

When an egg bearing female is landed the fisherman will phone the hatchery who sends a technician out to collect it. Around 50% of the local lobster fishers in Falmouth bay implement their own conservation measures to help save wild lobster stocks. Using a method called ‘v-notching’ they cut a notch in to the tail of an egg bearing female or ‘berried hen’ which then means it is illegal for other fishers to land and sell this female until the notch grows out. It is illegal to land and sell a berried hen in the UK anyway, but some unlawful fishers have been known to scrape the eggs off. The notch helps against these crimes.

Studies show V-notching does not harm lobsters. This method, originating in the Gulf of Maine, has been legally enforced in Britain since 2000.

Head Standing Hens

Chris Weston, a hatchery technician, shows a berried hen with eggs around her pleopods (feathery parts underneath the abdomen). A single female can carry 2,000 to 45,000 eggs, but only 1 in 5,000 of those survives in the wild. “When the hen is ready, she will do a headstand to release the eggs,” says Carly. “They then naturally float to the surface. In the wild this usually happens at night for safety, so predators can’t see the larvae.”

In the hatchery, eggs are collected and transferred to the larval system to begin their first moult.

“We keep hens in cold water pools to extend the natural hatching season,” Carly explains. This process allows the hatchery to bring eggs on when ready, typically between March and October. Cooling the female slows egg development, increasing the hatchery’s capacity to hold hens at different incubation stages.

Ancient Arthropods

Lobsters have a long history, dating back to the Jurassic period. They can live up to 100 years in the wild. The largest European Lobster, caught in Fowey in 1931, weighed 9.3kg and measured 50 inches. Lobsters are easily recognizable with their dark blue armour, large claws, and long red antennae. They are either left or right clawed, using one claw for crushing and the other for slicing. Male lobsters are competitive and fight for mates.

The mating process is complex, in which the female must shed her shell before mating. She has a long incubation period lasting for around 9 months. They are caring mothers and will continuously fan fresh water over their eggs to provide a fresh stream of water and oxygen.

Lobster Grower 2 Project

The Lobster Grower 2 project (LG2) ran for three years, concluding in 2019. It aimed to rear lobsters to larger sizes in containerized systems at sea. These containers, installed next to mussel lines, allowed lobsters to feed on natural food sources and supported the surrounding marine environment.

“The hope of rearing lobsters in protected environments out at sea is that this will act as a transition step between the hatchery and release into the wild, providing them with ecological conditioning that will improve their chance of survival post release.” Says Carly. If implemented on a permanent, long-term basis, this could ultimately provide better results for the fishing sector and could also benefit the marine environment in the process.

Post Release Tracking

At the moment it is difficult for the hatchery to monitor success rates as it is nearly impossible to track one of their lobsters once released – at only an inch in length physical tagging is not an option. “We have a lot of anecdotal evidence from fishermen in areas where they have done releases with the NLH,” says Carly. “They have reported many more lobsters of the size you would expect given the length of time they have had to grow post release, and they are not seeing such an increase in numbers in other areas.”

In the future, growing on the lobsters would allow for physical tagging before release. In addition, the NLH is developing DNA sampling methods with the University of Exeter. By taking DNA samples from egg-bearing females, the hatchery hopes to analyse and identify hatchery-reared lobsters in the wild, 5-7 years after release. Consequently, this method could provide vital evidence of the NLH’s success and inform future release practices.

What Can You Do to Help?

The NLH’s “Buy One, Set One Free” scheme works with restaurants, wholesalers, and retailers to donate a portion of lobster sales to the hatchery. Customers can support the release of baby lobsters through small donations. Additionally, buying certified sustainable seafood supports conservation efforts.

Another way to support the charity’s work is by visiting their main hatchery at Padstow harbour in Cornwall. With interactive displays and activities, it’s an educational experience for all ages. You can also become a friend of the hatchery through monthly donations or adopt a lobster (even a whole family of them!) to fund the breeding and release program.

Conclusion

The work of The National Lobster Hatchery continues to grow and become more successful every year. In addition to their newer hatchery in Newlyn harbour – established in 2017 – they hope to extend to more satellite hatcheries and partner with more organisations, to continue their conservation and research projects, and raise awareness of sustainability in our oceans. In addition, the lobster grower 2 project results were promising and could lead to fully cultivated lobsters appearing on UK menus in years to come. Supporting the hatchery helps ensure a sustainable future for our oceans and marine life.