Lobster trap baits

The Western Australia rock lobster fishery is a mature and successful fishery with MSC accreditation. The industry currently uses mostly raw, unprocessed fish and fish parts as bait. This has limitations and risks. Fish parts have short duration in the trap and lobsters are able to leave the lobster pot when baits are depleted or no longer attractive. This can result in potential loss of lobsters with extended set times. There may be implications for MSC certification about bait use, with respect to ethics and sustainability due to the use of food grade fish for bait, and the high carbon footprint of imported frozen baits.  Furthermore, there are biosecurity risks associated with importation of extremely large quantities of raw, frozen fish from other parts of the world. .

There is increasing scientific knowledge on neurophysiology of decapod crustaceans and the food attractant chemicals in bait that they respond to. Likewise, there is the modern capacity to formulate carriers and substrates to hold and release attractant products in formulated baits. This facilitates our ability to manufacture baits that can be customised to match efficient fishing strategies.

In terms of attractiveness of the bait to entice the lobsters to enter the lobster trap and to facilitate extended pot set times, it is essential to maintain physical and sensory attractiveness of baits for multiple days. With depleted or unattractive baits, the lobsters will leave the trap.

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Fathom Biotech has developed a formulated bait for improving the logistics and sustainability of bait supply and use in lobster trap fisheries. 

The bait is a dry shelf stable product made from an inorganic base that is attractive to lobsters as it leaches attractant chemicals; but is also eaten, and can be engineered to have nutritional value and attractiveness to the lobsters. These baits are stable for up to 6 days, and the physical and sensory properties can be adapted by manipulating the formulations and manufacture processes.

These baits can also be modified for use as water stable, slow release food sources for use in lobster holding facilities.

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The baits have been thoroughly tested by commercial fishermen with excellent results.

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Gypsum baits new and after 4 days in water