Wind farm projects extend their support for Whitby Lobster Hatchery project
The importance of biodiversity is becoming increasingly recognised as vital to the health, wealth and happiness of our communities. The team at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery and adjoining Whitby Marine Discovery Centre is pleased to announce Dogger Bank and Sofia offshore wind farm projects have continued to pledge support for the project, which is committed to safeguarding lobster populations.
Aiming to release 100,000 juvenile lobsters back into the sea, the team at Whitby Lobster Hatchery is committed to ensuring the seas are sustainable and rich in diversity for years to come.
Operating under the charity name of North Sea Conservation, the team has high ambitions to provide the best opportunity for the coastline to remain healthy and productive. Working alongside its impressive potting fleet which boasts the 3rd largest catches in Europe, the fishing community bring ‘berried’ egg bearing female lobsters into the hatchery.
When the eggs hatch the hatchery team then provides everything the tiny lobster larvae need to give them the best chance to survive. After around 8 weeks of care in the hatchery the juvenile lobsters are released back into the sea.
The recently opened Marine Discovery Centre (on Whitby’s Peir Road), aims to provide a unique visitor experience, showcasing native marine biodiversity and providing a great opportunity for young and old to learn about fisheries, marine wildlife and the work of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery.
The support from the wind farm projects goes directly to supporting the work of both the Whitby Lobster Hatchery and the Marine Discovery centre, helping the project to deliver on its key aims of conservation, education and research.
Both wind farms are located on the Dogger Bank area of seabed, more than 80 miles from the north-east coast of England, with their export cables coming ashore on Teesside, between Redcar and Marske-by-the-Sea. Sofia is 100% owned by RWE, and Dogger Bank Wind Farm is a joint venture between SSE Renewables, Equinor and Vårgrønn. Offshore wind farms such as these will not only provide renewable energy and boost national energy security but also there’s an opportunity for windfarms to provide biodiversity benefit for oceans too.
General Manager of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, Joe Redfern said:
“We have always had high ambitions from the impact our project can have on the marine environment. The support we have received from both offshore projects has been a huge help in starting to realise those ambitions. We are really grateful for their support and are glad to be working with them into the future.”.