HelmGuy
01-08-2011, 11:36
At our yearly dive trip to Pentewan in June we organised a rather interesting dive. We were to release hundreds of baby lobsters on behalf of the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow. Made a change to trying to catch one for the BBQ!
One of our member’s son William wrote up the day for a school project and I’ve included his report below so he can tell you all about it.
The National Lobster Hatchery
The National Lobster Hatchery is in Padstow, Cornwall. The aim of the hatchery is to help stabilise and restock the region’s seas that have been over fished. It is also a great opportunity for research and to educate people about the fishing industry.
At the Hatchery
Between the months of March and September the national lobster hatchery look after female lobsters in berry (carrying eggs). These are called hens which can hold up to 12,000 eggs. After the eggs hatch into larvae they are taken into a whirlpool-like tank to keep them alive. At this stage they are no bigger than 7mm and look like tiny shrimp.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image002.jpg
Within stages 2 and 3 they start to look more like miniature lobsters. They develop their claws as well as their legs in these stages. In stage 3 their claws are on their side not underneath like in stage 2. Also at these stages they are highly cannibalistic, so they’re put in separate compartments. Upon reaching Juvenile stage they are ready to be released.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image004.jpg
In nature this would typically take 2 to 3 months but in the hatchery it’s only 5 to 8 weeks. Survival rates are greatly increased as well; in nature only 1 in 5000 (0.0002%) eggs survive to the juvenile stage. But in the hatchery they boast a survival rate of 20% (1000 of every 5000)
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image003.jpg
Getting Released
When they reach the juvenile stage it’s time for them to get released and this is done in one of two ways – Diver release and boat release. Diver release is considered better because we can place them on the suitable bottom composition which is a mixed sediment bottom, providing good burrowing opportunities and shelter for the juveniles. Also diver release is more enjoyable than just dropping them down a funnel off the side of a boat, where you can’t be completely positive of the bottom composition. Also with boat release you can not tell if their predators are down there unlike diver release.
The hatchery was put in place to improve lobsters chances of survival, which it has by 19.9998%. This is great for the fishermen’s pockets as well as the lobster numbers. The hatchery also helps researching lobsters. For example did you know that lobsters live in burrows for the juvenile part of their life. And they cave in the opening then just wait for other burrowers so they can eat them.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image005.jpg
Releasing the Lobsters
On the day of our release my dad had to drive to Padstow to the national lobster hatchery to collect the lobsters while everyone else sorted and packed the boat over in Pentwan Sands [near Mevagissy]. We only had a short period of time to get the lobsters in to the sea after they are picked up or they will die. In the boat on our way out to release the lobsters we also had to keep changing the water they were in to start getting them used to the temperature and the keep them oxygenated. When I released the lobsters we dived down to about 12 meters. The bottom composition was sand which isn’t that good because their burrows may cave in on top of them. On the dive some of the lobsters do not like to leave their compartment so we had to waft them out which was fairly difficult because they are very strong swimmers. But the others leave quite happily to explore the sea which is a relief because it saves our energy.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image007.jpg
It was really enjoyable to release the lobsters. I loved the dive because the visibility was about 5-6 meters, it was great to see the lobsters swimming free in the sea moving on to the next stage of there life. It is brilliant to be part of the day and I would like to thank BSAC Bristol Number 3 for letting me guest with them for the day. You guys are fantastic.
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed it.
By William Nunn
http://helmguy.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/guest-post-the-national-lobster-hatchery/
One of our member’s son William wrote up the day for a school project and I’ve included his report below so he can tell you all about it.
The National Lobster Hatchery
The National Lobster Hatchery is in Padstow, Cornwall. The aim of the hatchery is to help stabilise and restock the region’s seas that have been over fished. It is also a great opportunity for research and to educate people about the fishing industry.
At the Hatchery
Between the months of March and September the national lobster hatchery look after female lobsters in berry (carrying eggs). These are called hens which can hold up to 12,000 eggs. After the eggs hatch into larvae they are taken into a whirlpool-like tank to keep them alive. At this stage they are no bigger than 7mm and look like tiny shrimp.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image002.jpg
Within stages 2 and 3 they start to look more like miniature lobsters. They develop their claws as well as their legs in these stages. In stage 3 their claws are on their side not underneath like in stage 2. Also at these stages they are highly cannibalistic, so they’re put in separate compartments. Upon reaching Juvenile stage they are ready to be released.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image004.jpg
In nature this would typically take 2 to 3 months but in the hatchery it’s only 5 to 8 weeks. Survival rates are greatly increased as well; in nature only 1 in 5000 (0.0002%) eggs survive to the juvenile stage. But in the hatchery they boast a survival rate of 20% (1000 of every 5000)
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image003.jpg
Getting Released
When they reach the juvenile stage it’s time for them to get released and this is done in one of two ways – Diver release and boat release. Diver release is considered better because we can place them on the suitable bottom composition which is a mixed sediment bottom, providing good burrowing opportunities and shelter for the juveniles. Also diver release is more enjoyable than just dropping them down a funnel off the side of a boat, where you can’t be completely positive of the bottom composition. Also with boat release you can not tell if their predators are down there unlike diver release.
The hatchery was put in place to improve lobsters chances of survival, which it has by 19.9998%. This is great for the fishermen’s pockets as well as the lobster numbers. The hatchery also helps researching lobsters. For example did you know that lobsters live in burrows for the juvenile part of their life. And they cave in the opening then just wait for other burrowers so they can eat them.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image005.jpg
Releasing the Lobsters
On the day of our release my dad had to drive to Padstow to the national lobster hatchery to collect the lobsters while everyone else sorted and packed the boat over in Pentwan Sands [near Mevagissy]. We only had a short period of time to get the lobsters in to the sea after they are picked up or they will die. In the boat on our way out to release the lobsters we also had to keep changing the water they were in to start getting them used to the temperature and the keep them oxygenated. When I released the lobsters we dived down to about 12 meters. The bottom composition was sand which isn’t that good because their burrows may cave in on top of them. On the dive some of the lobsters do not like to leave their compartment so we had to waft them out which was fairly difficult because they are very strong swimmers. But the others leave quite happily to explore the sea which is a relief because it saves our energy.
http://helmguy.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/image007.jpg
It was really enjoyable to release the lobsters. I loved the dive because the visibility was about 5-6 meters, it was great to see the lobsters swimming free in the sea moving on to the next stage of there life. It is brilliant to be part of the day and I would like to thank BSAC Bristol Number 3 for letting me guest with them for the day. You guys are fantastic.
Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed it.
By William Nunn
http://helmguy.wordpress.com/2011/07/29/guest-post-the-national-lobster-hatchery/