The hatchery is built to a new design, pioneered by Dr. Brian Beal and Sam Chapman that achieves much higher survival rates to release than previous hatcheries. The Zone C hatchery can achieve up to a 85 percent survival rate; traditional hatcheries only reached 5 to 7 percent survival to release.
During the summer of 2006 there were three full-time employees at the hatchery: a manager, assistant manager and technician. The hatchery operates seasonally, from spring through autumn.
Essentially, the hatchery grows algae that are fed to brine shrimp, which are then fed to juvenile lobsters. This is how it works:
Step 1: Algae
Two strains of algae (Chaetoceros calcitrans and Isochrysis galbana) that were originally isolated in the tropics are prepared and grown in a "clean room" of the hatchery. Once the algal cultures are mature (~6-10 days), they are transferred to the Algal Grow Out room where they are allowed to mature for an additional 6-10 days in 20-gallon cylindrical tubes filled with filtered water and nutrients. Once mature, they are fed to brine shrimp and lobster larvae.
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Magnified under the microscope, Chaetoceros calcitrans, one of two strains of algae grown in the hatchery. |
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Algae are then moved to larger tanks. |
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Step 2: Brine Shrimp
A common fish food, the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) are ordered from aquarium suppliers and arrive in the hatchery in cyst form. The brine shrimp cysts are first decapsulated and allowed to grow for up to seven days in 50-gallon tanks. Algal cultures are fed daily to the brine shrimp . |
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A brine shrimp seen though the microscope. |
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Brine shrimp are grown in heated & insulated tanks. |
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Step 3: Larval Lobsters
Algal cultures and brine shrimp are then fed to larval lobsters, hatched from gravid female lobsters (aka seeders, eggers, berried). Gravid lobsters are brought in by Zone C fishermen who are listed on a special license given to Penobscot East by the Maine Department of Marine Resources. The license permits fishermen to bring in egg-bearing lobsters after notifying the Maine Marine Patrol.
In the hatchery, the egged females are kept in individual tanks until they release their eggs. The larval lobsters are then removed and grown in 100-gallon conical tanks, which are vigorously aerated to reduce cannibalism.
Lobsters are raised until they reach Stage IV, the age at which they begin to settle on the ocean floor. At this point, the lobsters are about 6/10 of an inch, no bigger than a penny.They are now ready to be released. |
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Specially licensed lobstermen bring egged female lobsters to the hatchery. |
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Larval lobsters are grown in 100-gallon conical tanks. |
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Lobsters are released when they reach stage IV, the age at which they begin to settle on the ocean floor. At this point, the lobsters are no bigger than a penny. |
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