Lobster is a delectable type of seafood in its own right. It is quite popular and is appreciated by a large number of people all around the world.
Commercial lobster production has been in operation for a relatively short period of time. It is a relatively new business concept, and contemporary commercial farming methods have only been in use since the early twentieth century, according to Wikipedia.
When launching a lobster farming business, the most important aspects to consider are clean water, a healthy environment, and the provision of nutritious food.
Despite their appearance, lobsters are essentially a kind of giant sea crustaceans. They have long, strong bodies, and muscular tails. From the seashore to beyond the continental shelf, they can be found in all oceans on rocky, sandy, or muddy bottoms.
Lobsters typically reside in groups of two or three in cracks or burrows under rocks. Three of their five pairs of legs, including the first pair, are equipped with claws, which are often larger than the others.
Lobsters are widely appreciated as a seafood delicacy and are also quite significant commercially.
In most cases, lobsters are caught utilizing baited one-way traps with a color-coded marker buoy to distinguish cages from one another. They are typically caught in bodies of water ranging from 2 to 900 meters deep (although some lobsters can live at 3,700 meters).
Some of the advantages of operating a lobster farm are covered in greater detail below:
● Commercial lobster cultivation is profitable due to its scarcity.
● Lobsters are in high demand, and the price of lobsters is quite competitive. As a result, it is a significant benefit.
● Selling lobsters is a straightforward process. Lobsters are already extremely popular throughout the world. As a result, you won’t have to be concerned about finding a market for your lobsters.
How to Get Started in the Lobster Farming Industry
Raising lobsters is more difficult than growing other types of fish. To get this business up and running, there are several actions that must be taken.
1. Choose an Appropriate Site
First and foremost, choose a place that is ideal for establishing a commercial lobster farming operation. Renting or purchasing property may be an option in your situation.
When choosing land, you must, however, consider some essential amenities. Among these amenities are a reliable source of clean and fresh water, a nearby source of lobster larvae, and convenient transportation; it is also preferable if the place chosen is devoid of pollution and disturbances.
2. Figure out what method you will use for lobster farming
An oceanfront location is not a must for your lobster farm. However, if you do not live near an ocean, it will be difficult for you to obtain lobster larvae, as lobster larvae do not ship well at all.
Salinity is essential for the survival of the majority of lobster species on the planet. It is therefore necessary to have access to seawater, or you can acquire a kit to salinate the drinking water you already have.
Two techniques for growing lobsters are available: the land-based or tank approach and the open-sea curing system. Whatever method you choose will be determined by the facilities available in your area.
3. Based on Land
When working in an appropriate setting, it is possible to create an effective land-based holding system. The concentrations of dissolved oxygen, ammonia, nitrate, and carbon dioxide in water are all critical indicators for water quality.
It is also required to monitor the concentrations of nitrate, pH, salinity, and alkalinity levels in the water system. Unionized ammonia is more poisonous than ionized ammonia.
The concentration of ammonia in culture water should be less than 2 mg per liter, and it is dependent on the temperature and pH of the water.
Because of the increased demand for oxygen during molting and after eating, these events typically take place during the night. If adequate oxygen is not delivered, it will have a direct impact on the growth of the lobsters.
Although lobsters can survive progressive variations in salinity up to a certain point, abrupt dilution can cause stress, increased susceptibility to disease, and even death in some circumstances.
4.Tank System Installed Indoors
In this system, the RAS system is commonly employed. Following the removal of waste products, the majority of the water is recycled in the recirculating system.
Solid waste, ammonia and nitrite, carbon dioxide, and other contaminants are removed from the water that returns to the fattening system through the use of a recirculation system.
Using mechanical filtration, solid wastes are removed, ammonia and nitrite are removed using biological filtration, and carbon dioxide is removed by providing an air-water interface.
Water is pumped from one tank to another in flow-through systems. The stocking density and feeding intensity have an impact on the rate of water flow. A sediment-free supply of water should be used for the initial fill.
5.Lobster Farming System with Open Sea Cage
Lobster farming in this manner is a widespread and popular method. Mussels and garbage fish are fed twice daily to the juveniles in the cage, which is well-stocked with mussels and trash fish.
The lobsters can also be fed professionally produced designed diets, though this is not recommended by most people. Conversion rates for such feeds are high.
6.Lobster Species to Be Considered for Commercial Harvesting
Every continent on the planet has its own variety of lobster species. Choose from a variety of options based on what is available in your area.
Adik-adik, bamboo, and tiger lobsters are some of the most frequent and popular lobster species found around the world. This group of species generally grows more quickly and is in high demand and value on the global market.
Each of these three species is distinct from the others, as evidenced by their respective names. They are reddish black in hue, and their shells are made of adik-adik lobster. They have striped legs and they look like bamboos, which is a common misconception about them.
Tiger lobsters, on the other hand, have spotted legs, which distinguish them from their counterparts. According to your region and desired production type, you can select any of these breeds from the list.
Selecting lobster species that are readily available in your location, on the other hand, is recommended. If there are any established farmers in your region, you could consult with them.
7.Obtaining Larvae and Keeping Stock
After picking your favorite species, you can purchase larvae from any source in your area. A variety of factors influence the optimal stocking density. If there are any existing manufacturers in your region, you could consult with them.
8. Feeding Lobsters
Fish, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and certain plant life are all common meals for lobsters, which are omnivores which prefer to eat live prey. While in captivity, they are known to forage for food and to engage in cannibalism.
Mussels and garbage fish are often fed twice daily to lobsters in commercial production, as is the case in most lobster farms. It is also possible to employ pre-formulated diets. Such feeds are also known for having high conversion rates.
9.Commercial lobster breeding
Lobsters are extremely good breeders by nature. When left to their own devices, they will reproduce readily. Even while it is feasible to breed and produce larvae in hatcheries, this is not the preferred method.
10.Tips for caring for and managing lobsters on a commercial lobster farm
In the commercial lobster farming industry, taking appropriate care of the lobsters is a critical component of success. Try to be as gentle with your lobsters as possible.
Always attempt to feed them well. Regularly check their health and stay in touch with a local professional.
11.Time to catch lobsters
When lobsters reach the required marketing size, you can anticipate harvesting them. Lobsters are gathered gently with nets to avoid causing harm to the animals.
When exposed to freshwater, the majority of lobster species will perish. As a result, do not harvest when it is raining.
12.Techniques for after-harvesting
Lobsters are classified as newshell, hardshell, or oldshell depending on their shell type. Grading is a critical post-harvesting operation that should not be overlooked. Because lobsters that have recently shed their shells are the most fragile and precious, they are the most expensive to purchase.
13. Lobster Yield
Because there are so many variables involved, it is impossible to predict an exact quantity.
14. How to Market lobsters
This process is pretty straightforward and easy. The reason is because lobsters are already in high demand and are worth a lot of money on both the domestic and international markets. As a result, you should have no trouble selling your products in the local market.