Lobster season

It’s slow and steady in the hatchery at the moment.  With the cold winter and to be honest, a cold spring, broodstock has been slow to come in.  The last few years we’ve had such mild winters that the lobster season started as early as February and we were in full swing early on.

We’re still getting 600 larvae through a day so it’s all good.

New children’s interactive display

Dr Jo Henley from Sci Art Solutions came to install our new children’s display yesterday.  Come and try your skill with our new fishing game, arrange the creatures in order of the food chain and test your knowledge with 3 new quiz and colouring sheets.

It’s with thanks to South West Water that we were able to get this children’s interactive bench commissioned.

Part time Visitor Centre Assistants required

to help us out over the summer.  Hours 3pm - 8pm approx  Position available from July

Minimum Wage

Application by CV to General Manager info@nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk

closing date 21/05/10

Rock Oyster Festival June 2010

Get the date in your diaries and check out the website for more detail. 

Porthilly Farm in Rock will play host to the inaugural Rock Oyster Festival over the weekend of 19th – 20th June this year. The festival is being organised by a team of locals whose passion for the shellfish of the Cornish coast has convinced them to hold an event which celebrates and champions the sustainable seafood.
This will be the first oyster festival ever on the North coast of Cornwall.

http://www.cornwalls.co.uk/events/2010-06-19-rock-oyster-festival-2010.htm

Sharing expertise across Europe

We are delighted to welcome two students from Europe to help us out as the hatchery gets busy and the lobsters start to hatch.   Hugo Bertigny from the South of France has recently finished an HND in Aquaculture at Lycee Saint Christophe and will be with us for 3 months work experience.

Tomas F. Wyatt Reguera is with us for a 3 month work placement which is part of his course at IGAFA (Instituto Gallego de Formacion Acuicola) in Galicia, Spain.  Tomas has done a lot of lobster culture work and has experience with green water techniques so we are benefitting from their knowledge as well.

Pescadou Spring Fund raising event – 26th March 2010

It’s tomorrow – the event is upon us.  We are completely sold out and so only those that have pre-booked their tickets will be allowed entry. 

Just to confirm that arrival time is 7pm for a 7.30pm start.  Pescadou Restaurant is next door to The Old Custom House on Padstow Harbour.  The itinerary is as follows:

1. Dom, General Manager of the Hatchery to give an introductory speech
2. Three Course Meal
3. Handing over to John Cleave to do the Auction
4. Cabaret
5. Raffle Draw

Feel free for a glimpse of the menu, auction and raffle prizes by clicking on the above links.

Port Isaac Primary School & Play Group have a day out at the hatchery

What a day we had, starting with a ferry trip from Rock to Padstow, a quick exploration of the beach, past the fishing boats and harbour and onto the hatchery where they met baby lobsters, crabs, shrimps, giant lobsters and even Larry made an appearance (our 6ft cuddly mascot).

They got up close and personal with one of our mummy lobsters, laden with eggs, a unique sighting of a baby lobster moulting (bursting out of his exo-skeleton) and for lunch, pasties all round.