Back in 2020, things started to change for Anstruther’s historic lifeboat station. Fife Council gave the green light for its demolition to make way for a brand-new lifeboat station at a different location. But not everyone was ready to say goodbye just yet.
That’s when the Anstruther, Kilrenny, and Cellardyke Community Council stepped up. They’ve been leading the charge to save the old lifeboat station – and for good reason. There’s hope that the building could be handed back to the community through an asset transfer process, with loads of exciting ideas on how to bring it back to life.
One of the standout suggestions? Turning it into a visitor attraction and lobster hatchery. And that’s where our story begins.
The Birth of East Neuk Hatchery Development
It all kicked off in January 2022. That’s when East Neuk Development (ENHD) Hatchery officially launched, complete with social media pages and a brand-new vision. We reached out to our friends at the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery in North Berwick, and to our delight, they agreed to supply us with baby lobsters for our release programme here in the East Neuk.
To support the cause, we set up a GoFundMe page, which not only helped raise funds for the lobsters but also helped spread the word about this exciting new project.
Spreading the Word
By March, things were really starting to take shape. We launched our SOS poster campaign, and our GoFundMe was gaining traction. It was around this time that we coined our motto:
“Catch – Rear – Release” – a simple way to explain what a lobster hatchery actually does.
A Summer to Remember
One of the most exciting moments came thanks to the amazing people at Sula Boat Trips in North Berwick and a generous local lobster fisherman from Pittenweem.
Together, we managed to transport three berried lobsters (that’s female lobsters carrying eggs) to the hatchery in North Berwick – a massive step forward for the project!
Then came August – the highlight of our year. Thanks to generous donations from local residents, fishermen, and a huge £500 contribution from the Community Kist in Anstruther, we raised over £1300 through GoFundMe.
Our First Baby Lobster Release Was a Splashing Success!
This marked an exciting milestone for us – our very first baby lobster release! After months of planning, we officially kicked things off by introducing hundreds of tiny lobsters into the wild, all thanks to our partnership with the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery in North Berwick.
The baby lobsters, raised with care at the hatchery, were released across seven beautiful coastal spots in the East Neuk: Lower Largo, Elie, St Monans, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail, and St Andrews. Each site was chosen for its ideal habitat and community connection.
The release took place during the morning low tide, and we were thrilled to involve members of the local community in this special event. Seeing kids, families, and volunteers come together to give these baby lobsters a new home was incredibly rewarding
A Little More Help – Small Sparks Grant
To top it all off, we got some more fantastic news. Our application for a Small Sparks grant was approved! We were awarded £250 to help cover the cost of a minibus trip to visit the Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery. It might not sound like much, but this grant helped us bring the hatchery experience to more local people – especially the younger generation who’ll carry this vision forward.
A Year of Big Moves: How 2023 Shaped the Future of the East Neuk Lobster Hatchery
After riding the wave of a successful 2022, the start of 2023 felt like the calm before the storm for us here at what would soon become the East Neuk Lobster Hatchery. While things may have looked quiet on the surface, behind the scenes we were busy planning, researching, and laying the groundwork for something truly exciting.
Setting the Scene: Early 2023
Our first big focus was planning an educational trip to the fantastic lobster hatchery in North Berwick. At the same time, we were rolling up our sleeves to begin a desktop analysis for a potential lobster hatchery right here in Anstruther—a project full of promise and potential.
Throughout the year, we also got involved with the Boat Shed Project—a community effort to save the historic lifeboat shed from demolition. This caught our attention as a possible home for the hatchery, and we made sure to stay involved in the conversations.
Field Trips, Fact-Finding & Baby Lobsters
By summertime, things really started to heat up. Our desktop analysis was well underway, and in August, we took fact-finding trips to both the North Berwick and Amble hatcheries to learn how they operate. These visits were invaluable for understanding the ins and outs of running a hatchery—and gave us plenty of inspiration!
But the real highlight? Thanks to funding from Small Spark, we took a group of curious kids (and a few just-as-curious adults) to the North Berwick hatchery. There, they got hands-on experience learning about lobster breeding, hatchery operations, and—best of all—they each got to release baby lobsters into the sea. The smiles said it all.
Analysis Results and Next Steps
By the end of August, we completed our desktop analysis and identified two potential sites for a lobster hatchery in Anstruther: one on the west pier and the other in (you guessed it) the lifeboat shed.
We quickly got to work, reaching out to Planning Aid Scotland about the West pier and submitting a formal note of interest for space in the lifeboat shed via the Boat Shed Project group. Exciting possibilities were finally turning into concrete steps.
RNLI Lifeboat Station
Becoming a Charity
In September, we reached out to Fife Voluntary Action to explore turning our project into a charity. After some brilliant support and a few in-depth meetings, we drew up a draft constitution, wrote out our charitable purposes, and even gave ourselves a new name—East Neuk Lobster Hatchery.
And the best part? On December 21st, it became official! We received confirmation from the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): East Neuk Lobster Hatchery was now a registered charity. A huge milestone for us, and a fantastic way to end the year.
What’s Next?
With our charity status secured and community support growing, 2023 had laid a strong foundation for everything to come. We’re excited to keep pushing forward developing the hatchery, connecting with more local people, and doing our bit to support sustainable fishing and marine education in the East Neuk.
2024: Full Steam Ahead
This year, things moved quickly.
Governance & Growth
We held our first committee meeting in April, set up governance documents, a bank account and unveiled our shiny new charity logo.
Connecting With the Community
We had a fantastic day at Dreelside Park in June, talking all things lobsters, and officially launched our #catchrearrelease campaign online.
Hatchery Site: Pier Pressure & Shed Setbacks
While we had high hopes for the RNLI shed, it soon became clear it would be demolished. But all wasn’t lost — the slipway itself remains a promising option for future use.
Meanwhile, momentum built around the West Pier. We submitted a pre-planning application to Fife Council big thanks to Muir, Walker & Pride Architects for offering support.
Website, Raffles, and Fundraising
We’ve been busy behind the scenes raising funds for our website — a key tool to connect, educate, and inform, with grants and raffle proceeds filling the gaps.
Speaking of raffles: local businesses have stepped up in a big way, donating prizes and selling tickets for our December draw at The Bank Bar. Even the Coop was involved!
Partnerships That Make a Difference
We’re lucky to have the backing of some incredible people:
- Jake Norton of Lobster Aquatic, who’s offering expert guidance.
- Firth of Forth Lobster Hatchery, our long-time collaborators.
- Architects and tourism groups, helping us bring this vision to life.
What’s Next for 2025?
Our goals are clear:
- Push forward with planning and design for the West Pier site.
- Expand outreach across local schools, tourism networks, and coastal communities.
- Continue fundraising to cover equipment, education tools, and operational costs.
Our claws are in — and we’re not letting go.
Join Us
Whether you’re a marine life enthusiast, a curious visitor, or just someone who loves a good community comeback story, we’d love to have you involved. Follow us, volunteer, donate, or simply come say hello at our next event.
The East Neuk Lobster Hatchery is more than a project — it’s a community movement. And we’re just getting started.
