Vacancies
VOLUNTEER WITH US
Volunteer with the Hatchery Team.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO VACANCIES WITHIN THE HATCHERY TEAM - PLEASE CHECK BACK AT A LATER TIME. Thank you for you interest.
Our hatchery operations are conducted by a dedicated team of marine technicians who deal with the day to day running of our hatcheries, facilitating our lobster restocking conservation programme and supporting cutting edge research.
We are able to offer a small number of opportunities to volunteers to assist the team with tasks relating to animal husbandry and aquaculture systems maintenance and enhancement in the hatchery.
Hatchery volunteers - day to day tasks include but are not limited to:
- Feeding lobster larvae, juveniles, broodstock, and aquarium exhibits
- Assisting with the husbandry of brood stock
- Cleaning tanks
- Maintaining and enhancing recirculating aquaculture systems and aquarium displays
- Water quality/chemistry monitoring
Please note: In order for volunteers to gain the best possible experience from this role we ask you commit to at least 6 months for a one day a week volunteer placement. You may be asked to attend an interview as part of our selection process. A qualification in a relevant science which includes marine biology, issues of sustainability or fisheries management is preferred but not essential. These roles are not paid and you must be over 18 to work with the hatchery team. Unfortunately we are unable to offer any financial support or cover travel costs.
STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS
Our team of researchers are involved in some of the most pioneering European Lobster research anywhere in the world. We are able to accommodate a small number of student research projects focussing on the subject of European Lobster aquaculture, biology or fisheries which would benefit from the use of our facilities and the experience and knowledge of our scientists. These projects would usually be conducted as a joint venture between ourselves and the university of the student and are best suited to third year BSc students or Masters/PhD projects.
Please note: These roles are not paid and you must be over 18 to work with the research team. Unfortunately we are unable to offer any financial support or cover travel costs.
For more information on the research projects we can accommodate and to discuss potential opportunities please email carly.daniels@nationallobsterhatchery.co.uk
What’s it like to Volunteer at the NLH! – Meet Elsa Domoney!
We caught up with one of our past volunteers and incredible work colleagues Elsa, to find out what it was like to volunteer at the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) and to see where she is now! Elsa worked so hard when she was here, starting as a volunteer hatchery technician before becoming a full time member of our research team for our Lobster Grower 2 project! We want to say a huge thank you to Elsa for all her work over the time she was with us, she was an amazing asset to the team. So, let's hear more about Elsa's Story!
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR TIME VOLUNTEERING AT THE NATIONAL LOBSTER HATCHERY
I joined the National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) in summer 2017 as a volunteer hatchery technician keen to learn more about the charity and to apply my interests in aquaculture and fisheries sustainability. During my time volunteering, I learned about lobster biology (e.g. life cycle, physiology, conservation status) and strengthened my experience of maintaining life support systems whilst helping with the day to day running of the hatchery. After a year of part-time volunteering, I obtained a full-time research assistant position working on NLH’s Lobster Grower 2 project. My role within the research team primarily focussed on planning, conducting and analysing scientific trials assessing potential ongrowing techniques of hatchery reared juveniles in sea-based containers on a local mussel farm. This fed into the project aim to assess the viability of the European lobster (Homarus gammarus) as a novel aquaculture species.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW AND WHAT DOES YOUR WORK INVOLVE?
I am now working as a Fish Health Inspector at Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
After my contract working on the Lobster Grower 2 project finished, I went on to study for a masters in Sustainable Aquaculture Systems at the University of Plymouth. Soon after finishing, I started working in my current role as a Fish Health Inspector within the Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) at Cefas, Weymouth. The FHI is responsible for maintaining the high aquatic animal health status of both wild and aquaculture reared finfish, molluscs and crustaceans across England and Wales. This is achieved through surveillance programs of notifiable diseases, legislative compliance inspections and disease investigations following observed clinical signs of disease or unexpected mortality events.
I am also involved in trade controls of live fish from a disease perspective, including import sampling and producing health certificate declarations for live fish exports. My role also involves enforcement work where legislation has been breached, working on behalf of the Veterinary Medicine Directorate examining use of medicines and controlled substances, and working to develop and authorise new aquaculture enterprises both in the UK and overseas.
WHAT SKILLS DID YOU GAIN FROM VOLUNTEERING AT NLH AND HOW HAVE THEY HELPED YOU GET WHERE YOU ARE TODAY?
Having hands-on industry experience in the aquaculture sector has been invaluable in terms of understanding the aquaculture facilities I inspect, as well as how to communicate and build rapports with fish farmers during site visits. Maintaining production systems, implementing appropriate biosecurity measures and good husbandry techniques are key to disease prevention in all aquaculture systems. These were all areas I gained an understanding of whilst at NLH and I find myself discussing and advising on these areas in my current job. I now enjoy working with a variety of species from Brown trout to European oysters but staying true to my lobster roots, I am looking forward to taking on more responsibility in the FHI’s crustacean work – particularly exciting as it’s a relatively new and expanding sector of UK aquaculture!
