We are exploring the idea of developing a lobster hatchery on Holy Island. This page introduces the concept, why it matters, and how you can help shape what happens next with your views.
What is a Lobster Hatchery?
A lobster hatchery is a place where young lobsters are safely raised during their most vulnerable early stages before being released into the sea. As well as supporting local populations and marine conservation, hatcheries can provide opportunities for education, hands-on learning, research and community involvement.
Understanding The Process
Step 1
Fishers bring berried hen lobsters into the hatchery where they are put into tanks to hatch their eggs into larvae.
Step 2
Larvae are reared in incubators, giving them a much better chance of survival than out in the wild
Step 3
Once at a juvenile stage, they are ready for release into the local shoreline, to replenish the wild populations
Benefitting Holy Island
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Hatcheries in the UK
There are over 5 hatcheries now in the UK, including the the most established below:
Previously known as the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery, the Forth Marine Hatchery is the only current lobster hatchery in Scotland. Established in 2010, the hatchery has gone from a small scale community project to now a full scale lobster hatchery alongside a native oyster hatchery. They run regular educational visits to their site and oftne have research programmes with local universities.
The National Lobster Hatchery is a marine conservation, research and education charity based in Padstow, Cornwall, UK. Established in 2000, they are the oldest lobster hatchery in the UK and have led a lot of research in lobster aquaculture. They run a full time visitor centre alongside their hatchery.
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Established in 2023, Whitby Lobster Hatchery is one of the newest hatcheries in the UK. Despite this, they have made impressive steps towards quickly releasing lots of juvenile lobsters into the North Sea, along with running a successful education programme.