Breeding lobsters

   One of my degree projects at Kingston University was to design an all-purpose tool for the lobster fishing industry and part of my research involved a trip on a lobster potting vessel off the Cornish coast at Newquay. This would turn out to be one of the most exhilarating yet exhausting 10 hours at sea I have ever faced. The rough sea, the strong winds, the invasive smell. it was a lot to stomach. After a few hours and several lobsters caught, I got to do a process called V-notching to a female lobster. This is where a small cut is made into the tail, signalling to other fishermen that she is a breeding lobster, to be protected for the future.

   It was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever endured and something I will never forget. Every time I’ve been served lobster from a restaurant or bought from a market, I contemplate the huge effort to get this luxurious meal onto the plate. The harsh conditions experienced on this trip has inspired me to campaign for more environmental responsibility within the fishing industry.