The first run of its hatchings of European clawed lobsters in 2021 has been achieved by Orkney Shellfish Hatchery.

This is 3 months earlier than was expected by the hatchery (part of the Cadman Capital Group’s Aquaculture portfolio).

Dr Nik Sachlikidis, Managing Director of the Cadman Capital Group’s Aquaculture portfolio, said:

 “Operations at Orkney Shellfish Hatchery continue to amaze us, consistently progressing at a far faster rate than anticipated.

“Having our lobster broodstock hatch larvae so early in the season allows the hatchery to culture juvenile lobsters from January through to November, an extension of four months when compared to the wild hatching season, which runs from March to September.

“This progression means that Orkney Shellfish Hatchery can now consistently produce far greater lobster numbers annually, substantially reducing capital overheads for the hatchery operation and providing much-needed clawed lobster product to restoration projects across Europe.”

The hatchery is utilising products from its sister company, Ocean On Land Technology, throughout the trial, including the ground-breaking Hatchery-in-a-Box concept – a containerised lobster hatchery system that can house and culture lobster from broodstock through to post-larvae.

European clawed lobster is set to be the second species the hatchery will be producing on land in order to support restoration projects across Europe, as it continues to successfully produce and provide runs of premium native oyster spat.