Lockdown Lobsters

Previously all of Sion’s lobster had been exported to Europe and China. With supply chain and export disruption due to Brexit and Covid 19, the year began with additional paperwork to export to Europe, heavy storms had prevented him on going to sea and when the coronavirus pandemic hit, all of the merchants and restaurants closed down. Traders were cancelling orders saying “we don’t want anything for 5 weeks, maybe 5 months.”

Sion and Jude started Lockdown Lobsters to catch and sell live native lobsters within 24 hours to London.

They saw the lockdown as an opportunity to shorten supply chains and find a market in the UK for this premium Welsh product.

• At the time Sion was writing an article about the effect of Brexit on the fishing industry, photographer Jude Edington was sent to Wales to photograph Sion at work.
• When Jude was photographing Sion, they were discussing concerns for their livelihoods as times were tough.
• Jude and Sion joined forces with a plan to sell the lobsters to people in London, with the view to shorten supply chains for the better.
• The lobsters caught by Sion are held in tanks, then when the orders are prepared for London they are carefully packed in cool boxes
• Initially they started to sell through Jude’s network in London – to friends and neighbours. But word travelled quickly and Lockdown lobsters started to go viral on social media and through Whatsapp groups
• Through Sion’ network, they have started working with four other fishermen and have set up holdings tanks for 500 lobster in the garage
• Since 2021, Lockdown Lobsters have been delivered in purpose-built boxes to down on the use of polystyrene waste.
• Sion delivers the Lobsters to London every Saturday during the summer and selected weekend dates out of season
• Deliveries can be made nationwide to your doorstep on the date of your choice through their courier service
• They have worked with the Welsh Seafood Cluster to develop their own branding, with Welsh seafood lobster bands for the claws
• Jude has brought his contact base from London and marketing skills on how to market the product
• Sion brings extensive knowledge of the fishing industry and lobster fishing to engage with the customers and build relationships for supporting this small-scale, sustainable fishery
• They have created brochures to go in the boxes with the story of where the lobsters came from and how to humanely handle and dispatch the lobsters.

1. Lockdown Lobsters – YouTube
2. How Brexit has impacted lobster fishing on the Llŷn Peninsula | North Wales Chronicle