Releasing Larry the Lobster

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                                        Help us fill our Lobsterometer!

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Over the last 20 years the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) have released over 250,000 inch-long baby (2- to 3-month-old) lobsters back into the wild, to help conserve vulnerable lobster populations.

So why do we need your help now?

We have carefully nurtured thousands of lobsters in environmentally-enriched sea-based homes as part of the pioneering Lobster Grower 2 project. Following its successful completion we have thousands of 1 - 3 years old juvenile lobsters perfectly ready and raring to be released back into our Cornish waters. 

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Normally, we release young lobsters at around 2 - 3 months old, at this stage they are benthic (bottom dwelling) and have a higher chance of survival than in their early stages of life.

However, what happens next is an ecological mystery. 

The 1 - 3 year old lobsters from Lobster Grower 2 are now big enough to be tagged and tracked, and have the potential to provide us with a wave of new insights into the first few years of lobster life. 

This is where you come in! With your help we can gain this groundbreaking information which will enable us to conduct these releases in a strategic manner. 

Such a release, both in terms of number and lobster age, has never been undertaken before. The sea-based systems in which the lobsters were reared has provided a transition step between the hatchery and the wild, producing larger, fitter, healthier lobsters that will therefore have a brilliant chance of survival following release.

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Apart from the warm fuzzy feeling you get from 'putting back' and helping to conserve our Cornish marine life, we also have a range of unique money can't buy rewards - just for you.

 Check out the perks below and be sure to click on your desired perk on the right side when you donate! 

£10 will give you the chance to WIN a trip to Tresco Island on the Isles of Scilly! 

Limited Edition Adoptions!

If you fancy being a mega Lobster Lover, you could also... 

Any donations we receive are hugely appreciated - We couldn't do this without your awesomeness!  

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You will be playing a vital role, not only in supporting our local lobster populations, but ultimately in helping to safeguard our coastal communities and fishing industry.

Your money will go towards the retrieving of the lobsters by qualified and dedicated sea-going scientists, collecting detailed data and ensuring the precious lobsters are safely transported to their new home in the wild.

If we exceed our target, we will use the money to conduct community education work raising awareness in marine sustainability and protection of the marine environment.