The National Lobster Hatchery is a pioneering marine conservation, research and education charity. Our primary aim is to help conserve the vulnerable lobster populations and preserve coastal marine biodiversity.

In doing so we will be safeguarding the livelihoods of small coastal communities and preserve our rich coastal heritage.

Fisheries around the world are suffering from major over-exploitation. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations state that over 75% of the world’s major fisheries are either: fully exploited, over-exploited, depleted or recovering.

It is clear that additional measures are required in order to improve the way we treat our living marine resources and this is why our work is so important.

Lobster stocks themselves are incredibly vulnerable and both the Scandinavian and Mediterranean stocks have completely collapsed and not recovered to this day.

We are best known for our lobster stock enhancement programme where we grow on baby lobsters from egg through their most vulnerable stage of their life cycle and release them back into the wild around Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, with the help of local fishermen and dive groups. In 2014 alone, we released 53,000 juveniles back into the wild and we hope to increase the numbers released over the next few years. Anyone can Adopt a Lobster for just £3 to help pay for our baby lobsters to be raised and released back into the wild.

We have established ourselves as a centre for excellence in lobster science and our research is cited all around the world.

Our public visitor centre welcomes over 40,000 per year to learn about the fishery and the sustainability issues it faces. Our all-weather tourist attraction in Padstow, North Cornwall offers information and activities for all ages and we welcome well behaved dogs on leads.

Admission prices for a standard self guided visit are:
Adult - £3.75
Senior (65+) - £2.50
Child (5-16 years old) - £1.75
Family (2 x adult, 2 x children) - £9.00

New for 2016

Meet the Expert Tours - Pre-book your 30 minute behind the scenes tour with our resident expert.
Adult- £12.00
Child - £6.00
Prior booking is essential to ensure we have an expert available. You can book by phone or in person at the Visitor Centre. Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 10.15am (arrive for 10am and meet in front of the maternity ward).
If you are booking for our Meet the Expert Tours there are a few things we need to make you aware of. Please make sure you wear sensible footwear (no heels), you will need to use the disinfectant footbaths upon entering and leaving the hatchery, you must be be careful not to slip on the wet floors in the hatchery and children must be supervised at all times. Its important that you avoid touching the tanks or water. As you can imagine, water quality is critical in successfully growing juvenile lobsters. We look forward to meeting you.

OPENING TIMES:
We are open all year, 7 days a week, from 10 am except for Christmas Day.

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