Television presenter Noel Edmonds, 77, has faced criticism online after a video showed him and his wife, Liz, releasing lobsters purchased from a farm shop tank into the sea at Peel Harbour on the Isle of Man.
Edmonds stated in an Instagram video that he and his wife felt uncomfortable seeing the lobsters confined in the tank and decided to buy them to set them free. The couple were filmed returning the crustaceans to the water, with Edmonds noting the presence of a seal as a sign of healthy water.
However, the move drew backlash from followers who raised concerns about the survival rates of stressed, captive lobsters in the wild. Marine biologists and commentators have noted that releasing such animals can introduce foreign diseases or disrupt local ecosystems. Some critics pointed out that the lobsters may not have survived the transition from the tank to the sea.
In response to the criticism, Edmonds shared a social media post stating he was "off to bed," with comments on his video later disabled. He had previously captioned a post with "We love and respect all creatures great and small."
Matt Harrison, owner of the farm shop, said he was sensitive to public feelings and had moved the lobster tank to a less prominent position, considering its removal. He added that the majority of customers support the shop's practice of selling local produce, including lobsters caught by a young local fisherman. Harrison stated the lobsters were kept in a filtered tank with water maintained at appropriate salinity and temperature levels, and were typically held for no more than a fortnight.
Edmonds, who divides his time between New Zealand and the Isle of Man, has since disabled comments on his Instagram post.