Lobster hatchery

[Marineboy]

Here's something that you may or may not have heard about.
On the harbour at Padstow in Cornwall there is a place helping not only the local fishermen, but also one of our most striking, and familiar of crustaceans.
The Lobster Hatchery does exactly what it says on the tin. Local lobster fishermen donate berried females, (those with eggs), to the hatchery, where they are kept until the eggs hatch. The larvae are carefully nurtured and grown on into juvenile lobsters a couple of inches long. In controlled conditions, these juveniles, in their own safe space have a much higher survival rate than if they were in the wild. When big enough, divers take them down in large batches and release them in prime lobster habitats where they take up life in the wild. Lobster population is greatly improved and the local fishermen enjoy the rewards of greater catches.
A fascinating place to visit. And good to see a genuine attempt maintaining, if not indeed increasing fishing stocks of at least this overfished species. I think this was the first of several around the country. Whatever your views are on fishing, this has got to be good.

[honeybee]

I went down there recently but didn't get chance to visit. At least they're making the fishing more sustainable.

[jdoherty]

Sounds very interesting and such a worthy venture.

John

[Emma S]

That's really good to hear. The only way for fishing to be in any way sustainable in the future is for initiatives like this.