The Lobster Hatchery of Wales

Apart from their famous sea salt, David and Alison Lea-Wilson have also been quietly busy running a lobster hatchery at their sea zoo next to the Halen Mon. They started a small-scale pilot hatchery in 1989, where fisherman would sell them berried females (i.e., those carrying eggs). When the larvae hatch, they are put into tanks called ‘up welling bins’, where fast-moving water is pumped around to keep the larvae moving. This emulates sea currents and stops them eating each other. Once they have built up some strength and have gone through four stages of growth, known as moults, they are transferred to individually compartmentalized trays, rather like mini wine boxes, where they are left to grow for 4—6 months, so they are strong enough to be released into the sea.