Hatching a collaboration to save lives and lobsters at sea

A mature lobster from the hatchery is re-released at Runswick Bay by Amber Burton. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Whitby Lobster Hatchery teamed up with Runswick Bay Rescue Boat for its latest release of baby lobsters this week.

During the rescue boat’s regular training night on Wednesday, they were joined by hatchery staff to release 135 baby lobsters from the boat while out at sea off Runswick Bay.

Whitby Lobster Hatchery on a training exercise with Runswick Bay Rescue Boat where they released 135 juvenile lobsters into the sea. Picture: Ceri Oakes

Joe Moody (Whitby Lobster Hatchery Head Aquaculturist) and Amber Burton (Aquaculturist and Charity Support Officer) prepared the lobsters and once acclimated, used a funnel and hose to release the stage four lobsters down to the rocky seabed.

The RBRB team got involved too, helping to sieve out the baby lobsters and pour them back into the wild.

Whitby Lobster Hatchery became part of the training session after the lobster releases out at sea in Runswick. Picture: Ceri Oakes

An egg-bearing female lobster, which had finished hatching, was also released back into the sea as are all hens which go through the hatchery, based on Pier Road, Whitby.

Staff v-notch their tails to indicate they are capable of breeding and are therefore protected.

Amber Burton from Whitby Lobster Hatchery on board with RBRB. Picture: Ceri Oakes

After releasing the baby lobsters, RBRB’s normal training session started with the team practicing overboard rescues using Joe and Amber, before heading inshore for a pub tea.

Amber at Whitby Lobster Hatchery said: “We would like to say a massive thank you to the RBRB team for helping with our conservation mission, and for their remarkable work keeping the coastal community safe.”

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