Raising lobsters to fish lobsters
Photo from Joe Redfern
Lobsters are crustaceans that feed on fish and other small sea creatures. They are typically found near the coast or shoreline in relatively shallow waters. However, lobsters are also a typical delicacy in many parts of the world, from countries in Europe to Asia. They are considered a luxury and are quite expensive in terms of retail, but are constantly hunted for by fisheries.
Whitby’s fishing, an England-based fishery, is one of the leading companies in lobster imports, being the third largest lobster port in Europe. Around 100,000 lobsters are fished by Whitby’s fishing, leading to a severe decline in lobster populations. Lobsters have an astoundingly low reproduction rate; only 1 in 20,000 lobster hatchlings live to adulthood, resulting in difficulty in recovering from overfishing. The reduction of lobster populations also damages the ecosystem in the surrounding area. They are known for being scavengers and aiding in decomposing dead organic matter. Without them, the buildup of decaying tissue in the ocean can lead to increased bacteria and, in turn, lower the oxygen levels in oceans, handicapping fish and many other marine animals.
However, Joe Redfern, a member of Whitby’s fishing, is leading restoration efforts in Whitby’s lobster hatchery, an initiative to release lobster juveniles into the waters to maintain ecological balance. The end goal is to be able to release the same amount of lobsters into the water as fished by them to support the ecosystem. This plan so far has raised up to 100,000 pounds to get started and is currently underway with releasing the first batch of 100,000 baby lobsters into the sea in just under a month’s time.
Preservation of the oceans is crucial, for they are the backbone of many ecosystems that we know and rely on. This initiative is just one of many that are necessary to save aquatic populations.
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