Lobster Grower - Develop the technology to fast track the aquaculture potential for the European Lobster

Support from the Agri-tech catalyst has been secured for a 15 month project addressing fundamental food security challenges by examining novel angles to expand the aquaculture industry; to include a species not currently exploited, the European Lobster. This species commands the highest value (by volume) of any species landed in the UK and supply does not meet demand. Sea based culture, in containers (SBCC) exhibit potential for a low carbon form of rearing with no feed costs. The project will design and develop a SBCC system specifically designed for nursery and on-growing, that can be used to rear the product to a marketable size. The project will set up a marine licence, essential for establishing a pilot scale site, so that future work can develop the essential tools and techniques required in order to pioneer a new industry. The consortium will be led by the National Lobster Hatchery and consists of three SME's and micro SME's, two HEI's and a Government Agency.