This week, we are hearing from one of our fantastic interns, Bella Johnston who has been with us for 1 month exceeding her position as Aquaculture Technician in our lobster department!
When I first applied for the intern position at the Forth Marine Hatchery, I wasn’t sure what to expect. In my third year of a marine biology degree at the University of Stirling, I had been learning lots about aquaculture and heard from the university about a lobster hatchery in North Berwick. I thought the idea was really interesting, and I hadn’t heard of a project in aquaculture involving conservation yet and thought it was a unique venture.
I was so pleased when I learned I’d succeeded in my application, and for someone who has grown up with a passion for marine biology, I felt incredibly lucky being able to work in the field before graduating.
Within the first week of the internship, I learned so much. From learning the ins and outs of the RAS system, to the feeding routines, the hen care, pumping water in and out to the sea… by the end of the first couple shifts I felt confident that I could run the hatchery. And that’s what I did! Me and Andrew (the other intern) were trusted with great responsibility, but thanks to the hands-on experience I had gained over my first few days, I was capable of looking after these lobster larvae.
Engaging with the public is also an important part of the job, as educating people about what we do helps further support for the hatchery as a whole. Talking to people about what I’m interested in is thoroughly enjoyable, and I enjoy passing on the enthusiasm I have for these animals.
I have also been heavily involved in the social media of the hatchery and have seen an increase in engagement across all social media pages! It has been heartening to see the response this season to the posts we have put out- it has made me doubly excited for curating more content over the rest of the summer.
At the end of my first month here, I have a huge appreciation for the European lobster and feel incredibly fond of both the hens and the larvae. It’s an incredibly interesting species to observe, and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the larvae progress into juveniles. It’s highly rewarding to see the pay off of the time spent caring for these animals and to know how big a role you have played in their survival. I’m super excited to see what the rest of the season brings!