Noel Edmonds ‘Lobstergate’ row helped sales soar by 40%, says farm shop owner

The owner of the Isle of Man Farm Shop has said the controversy surrounding Noel Edmonds’ release of two lobsters into Peel Harbour helped boost exports of the shellfish by 40%.

Matt Harrison, who runs the business at the Swiss Chalet in Glen Helen, said the saga had brought significant attention to Manx lobster, with local restaurants selling out in the weeks afterwards.

The incident, which became known as ‘Lobstergate’, made national and international headlines in July after former Deal or No Deal presenter Noel Edmonds and his wife, Liz, bought two live lobsters from the shop before releasing them into Peel Harbour.

Their decision sparked a heated debate about animal welfare, the ethics of keeping live lobsters in tanks and whether releasing the animals back into the sea was appropriate.

Mr Harrison said the publicity had ultimately delivered a positive outcome for the Island’s fishing industry and local food producers.

‘Lobster exports were up 40%,’ he said.

‘Eating lobster on the island in the restaurant, so Boatyard, Manx lobster, they sold out for about three weeks afterwards.

‘So whether you like it or you hate it, it did some fantastic things for our producers.’

Mr Harrison said the controversy had also brought an unusual level of media attention to the farm shop, with interviews for several major broadcasters.

‘I did interviews with LBC, Sky News, CNN were on the phone,’ he said.

‘That was my four days of fame, I think, for my life, and it was incredibly hard work, but good fun.’

The shop had initially considered removing its live lobster tank following the backlash, but Mr Harrison confirmed it remained in place when asked whether there was any prospect of it being taken away.

‘No, I don’t think so,’ he said.

‘I mean, we’re an island of fishermen, so I think we have to support the stuff that’s local, sustainable and fresh.’

He added that he was happy to discuss the tank with customers who had concerns about keeping live lobsters on display.

‘As I said in the videos before, that ain’t a Pets at Home tank,’ he said.

‘These are very, very well-looked-after fresh animals.’

Mr Edmonds and his wife released the two lobsters after explaining that they had felt uncomfortable seeing them kept in a tank.

The couple’s actions drew criticism from some people who questioned whether shellfish accustomed to a controlled environment should be returned to the wild.

Mr Harrison defended the shop at the time, explaining that the lobsters had been caught locally and that he had advised the couple on how to release them.

The row subsequently widened, with animal rights campaigners weighing in on the debate and PETA putting up billboards at the Sea Terminal in August calling for people not to eat lobsters.

Controversial media personality Katie Hopkins also weighed in, asking Noel Edmonds: ‘Why do you go into a farm shop that sells live lobsters if you don’t like seeing live lobsters?’

Despite the controversy, Mr Harrison’s latest comments suggest the attention brought a commercial boost for the Island’s seafood producers, while the farm shop has continued selling live lobsters.