The Marine Discovery Centre, located on Pier Road, directly opposite the Magpie Cafe, features three tanks containing over 30 species of native marine life.
Visitors can engage with the exhibits, gain insights into various sea creatures, and appreciate the vital work conducted here.
What is the Marine Discovery Centre?
Originally an unused fish auction shed, the centre has been repurposed to also serve as a Lobster Hatchery. Its primary goals are to support the local fishing industry while promoting education and research on the area's marine life.
Each year, they aim to release 100,000 juvenile lobsters back into their natural habitat, which helps counterbalance the number caught by local fishermen in Whitby. The hatchery protects lobsters during their most vulnerable stage, as typically only 1% survive in the wild.
By utilising advanced technology, the hatchery replicates the natural conditions necessary for juvenile lobsters to thrive until they reach maturity, enhancing their survival rate to an impressive 40% when they are returned to the ocean.
Our visit to the Marine Discovery Centre
The Marine Discovery Centre was open throughout half term, so we popped in with our little one to support the charity, learn more about sea life, and escape very busy Whitby for a little while!
Our little boy loves learning about sea life, so this was the perfect way for him to spend time in Whitby. One of the friendly volunteers greeted us and gave our little boy a children's worksheet to complete.
An educational experience for both children and adults
The space features superb, informative, well-thought-out displays and the Lobster Hatchery. The Whitby Lobster Hatchery focuses on preserving Whitby's fishing heritage by safeguarding the local lobster populations. They bring wild-caught, egg-bearing lobsters to the hatchery, protecting the juveniles during the most vulnerable part of their life cycle. Then, release them back into the wild. This way, they can ensure that the lobster populations continue to thrive and contribute to Whitby's rich maritime history for generations.
Our little boy loved filling out his quiz sheet and searching the tanks for the answers. The space is incredibly child-friendly. There are even small movable steps beside the tanks to get a close view of the sea life.
Knowledgeable and friendly volunteers
The volunteers were lovely. One asked if we wanted to watch her feed the fish. She was incredibly knowledgeable and told us many interesting facts about the lobsters and fish in this particular tank. She also showed us juvenile lobsters, which were incredible—it was amazing to see how tiny and fragile they are!
The centre is small, but don't let that put you off visiting. The amount you can learn from it is unbelievable.
The experience was eye-opening for all of us. The admission price is fair, especially as you support the charity and its incredible work.
Whitby Lobster Hatchery: An Insight Interview By Lindsey Ebbs
Joe, The Lobster Hatchery is an excellent concept for Whitby. What made you think of Whitby above any of the other coastal towns?
Whitby has a long-standing fishing and maritime history that has seen many changes. Most recently, the collapse of the white fish industry led to the current boost in potting boats fishing for crabs and lobsters. We want to celebrate that history and preserve it for future generations.
Whitby is a special place with a thriving fishing and booming tourist industry. It is the ideal location to mesh both sectors and provide a positive future for the Whitby fishing fleet and its tourism industry.
Our location along Pier Road is the perfect spot to showcase the hatchery's work to many people while maintaining an essential link to the fishing industry.
Tell me more about Lobsters. Am I right in thinking that 99% of lobster larvae (baby lobsters) don’t survive in open waters due to predators? Has this situation changed over the years, and why?
Lobster reproduction works with an ‘R' dominated type of reproduction, producing many offspring with little to no care for the offspring when released.
This results in a low survival rate; however, who has time to look after over 5,000 babies each season?
There hasn't been any recorded change in the survival rate of juveniles, but due to the increase in fishing activity, the populations could be at risk of decline.
Raising the lobster larvae in a hatchery can increase the 1% chance of survival to around 20%, boosting lobster numbers.
How long do the lobster larvae need to be kept in the hatchery? Out of the 100,000 released each year, what is the survival rate, and how old do they have to be before they can be fished?
Lobster larvae will be kept in the hatchery until they reach at least ‘stage 4' of their development. They have undergone four moulting cycles and growth stages, from floating planktonic larvae to ground-dwelling tiny lobsters.
After stage 4, they have survived past the most vulnerable time and are ready to find a spot on the reef. In the hatchery, we wait 6-8 weeks after the eggs hatch before releasing them to the wild.
Once released, each lobster takes 5-7 years to grow to an adult measuring 87mm along its carapace. During this time, they can reproduce, adding to the lobster populations before reaching the legal size to be fished.
Become a volunteer
This project greatly benefits from the involvement of volunteers. They believe the more people they have on board, the stronger this project will become.
They encourage individuals to reach out and explore how they can contribute their unique skills and knowledge to the friendly and dedicated team. If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out the brief form on their website, indicating your areas of expertise and interests.
