TV presenter Noel Edmonds has faced criticism after buying live lobsters from a farm shop and releasing them into the sea. The former Deal or No Deal host and his wife, Liz, visited a local farm shop on the Isle of Man, felt "uncomfortable" seeing the lobsters in a fish tank, and decided to set them free.
Social media backlash
Social media users were not happy with their actions, as releasing captive lobsters could pose concerns to native lobster populations. Dubbed "lobstergate", Edmonds has since turned off comments and taken down the post. In the original Instagram video, the 77-year-old said: "All right, this is one of those more bizarre things that happens with us. We were at a place where there were some lobsters in a tank, and we're a little bit uncomfortable about the lobsters and tanks."
They later went to Peel Harbour, where they set the lobsters free, adding: "So we bought the lobsters, and now Liz is going to release them. So here we go. Nice clear water in Peel Harbour. There they go! And we know this is nice fresh water because a moment ago a seal went past. Wonderful place."
Criticism and defense
Despite the intention of "love and respect to all creatures great and small", one viewer slammed: "They've basically killed them. Look it up. You can't release tanked lobsters into the sea for various reasons." Another said: "Lovely sentiment, but from a marine biologist perspective it's best not to release captive lobsters. Disease transfer and genetic mixing are real concerns to native populations - also restaurants will order more lobsters and sell them knowing people will release them - you're liable to big fines for doing this."
Matt Harrison, owner of the farm shop, responded to "lobstergate" and said he wanted to support small local businesses. He explained: "These lobsters are caught just off the Isle of Man. This tank is charcoal filtered, it is maintained weekly to match the sea salinity and between 7.1C and 7.4C." He added that the lobsters have not been kept in the tank for more than two weeks, saying: "When our friends Noel and Liz came and bought them, they put them in a box for an hour so the temperature would have risen. When they were released in the harbour, in deep water, I don't know if the seals would have got them, but they stood the best possible chance and it's highly unlikely they would be temperature-shocked to instant death."
He concluded: "They did the right thing, they did what they wanted to do."
