Scotland’s Fusion Marine is taking part in a multi-partnership project to develop a sea-based lobster rearing system that could benefit coastal communities.
Known as Lobster Grower, the 15-month project is led by the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) and aims to develop the technology required to grow lobsters at sea in containers, which will help the partners to assess the overall potential for the aquaculture of this much sought-after European crustacean.
Rhuaraidh Edwards, technical sales engineer, Fusion Marine, said: “Our expertise in plastics technology has already been successfully used in finfish and mollusc farming and this new pilot project will enable us to focus on the challenging task of helping develop a viable culture system for lobsters.”
Working closely with other project partners, Fusion Marine will use its expertise in plastics technology and aquaculture system design to help develop novel sea-based rearing systems for lobster.
The NLH says this project presents an opportunity to do something “cutting-edge and innovative” that will have a significant impact on the development of a “novel species for aquaculture”.
“It will generate technology that will enable us to grow juvenile lobsters to a greater age before releasing them into the sea to enhance local stocks, whilst at the same time providing them with environmental enrichment so that they are better able to cope with life in the wild,” explained Carly Daniels, head of R&D, NLH.
“Secondly, it will generate the intellectual property within the charity that we hope will generate funds in the future for our ongoing conservation, education and research work. In the long-term, it could facilitate the development of a lobster farming industry that would not compete with the existing market – which is supplied by the fishery – but instead actually generate market diversification,” she concluded.
As well as Fusion Marine, other partners in the NLH-led consortium are The University of Exeter, Falmouth University, The Centre for Environment, Fishing and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), and West Country Mussels of Fowey.
