15AGRITECHCAT4: Lobster Grower 2 - Assessing the technical, economic and environmental potential for a novel candidate aquaculture industry.

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This project focuses on developing three priority areas for commercial lobster aquaculture: 1) field testing and development of innovative technical solutions, 2) development of an Aqua-economic model and: 3) de risking of farming operations. The European lobster is a high value species with a significant supply deficit and a limited fisheries production capacity. The development of a lobster aquaculture industry will generate wealth and jobs in vulnerable coastal communities and contribute towards food security issues. Lobster Grower 2 (LG2), a follow on project from the successful first stage project: Lobster Grower one (LG1), aims to implement field tests and evaluate innovations generated in LG1, whilst developing and testing further innovations related to anchoring systems. A specific objective of LG2 will be to develop an 'aqua-economic' model based on operations of a pilot scale lobster farm. This will be based upon a detailed technical and economic evaluation of the pilot farm's operation, utilising the developed innovative approach. This economic predictive tool will enable and encourage entrepreneurs and potential investors to enter into commercial production with a reduced economic and technical risk. A significant component of the project will also focus on de-risking key environmental risks associated with livestock farming from a product and system development approach, which if not addressed would represent further commercial risk. Therefore, the project also explores real-word factors such ergonomics of handling, transportation and storage, transportation logistics with and without lobsters and the overall practical implications for stakeholders throughout the supply chain.