Decapod Aquaculture Forum

Whitby Lobster Hatchery travelled to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow for the first workshop of the Decapod Aquaculture Forum (DAF) — also the first official gathering of the Crustacean Hatchery Network (CHN), an initiative the hatchery has helped to build over recent months.

The workshop drew together a broad mix of people working with crustaceans: fishing and aquaculture businesses, researchers and those in governance. Discussion focused on two themes — crustacean production and live transport.

Head Aquaculturist Joe Moody joined the live transport group. Although much of that conversation centred on king prawn aquaculture, the hatchery’s experience of rearing and moving European lobsters proved valuable for drawing wider lessons across different decapod species.

The session reviewed progress since the forum’s previous workshop and identified existing technologies that could be adapted for crustacean aquaculture, along with areas where the new network can lend its support.

“There was a really good mix of expertise on the table that kept the discussions going.” — Joe Moody, Head Aquaculturist