Noel Edmonds has admitted that the two lobsters he and his wife released into the sea may not have survived, but he defended his actions, saying they at least avoided being boiled alive. The 77-year-old former Deal or No Deal host spoke out in a five-minute Instagram monologue after facing criticism for his rescue attempt.
Backlash over lobster release
Last week, Edmonds and his wife Liz Davies purchased two live lobsters from a farm shop on the Isle of Man and released them into the water at Peel Harbour. The video sparked debate, with some questioning the lobsters' chances of survival and others warning about the risks of handling them.
In his video, Edmonds said: 'Yes, I concede we probably only delayed the inevitable. But hey? Maybe those two lobsters are still out there […] having a wonderful, wonderful time.' He also addressed what he called 'minxy people' telling 'absolutely whopping pork pies about the whole saga of the lobster and the Isle of Man farm shop.'
Peta praises compassion
Animal rights group Peta, however, praised Edmonds for his 'compassion.' Elisa Allen, Peta UK's Vice President, told LadBible: 'Such compassion is all too rare in today's world, especially for the smallest or least understood forms of life.' She added that while the lobsters may not survive in the wild, they had avoided being boiled alive.
Edmonds explained that his wife spotted the lobsters in a tank at the shop and said, 'Oh I feel sorry for them in the tank.' The shop's Matt Harrison told her they weren't the first to say that. The couple paid for the lobsters and transported them in a box that Harrison advised was a 'very similar' temperature to their origin.
Scientific warnings
A report from the University of Maine on 'Best Practices in Handling of the American Lobster' warns against handling lobsters, stating: 'Limit handling time as much as possible. […] Damage to the shell could lead to greater risk of disease or death, and impacts the overall quality of the lobster.'
Additionally, the UK's Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science warns about the threat of releasing American lobsters into native waters, as they are larger and have a 'competitive advantage.' Edmonds said the lobsters were local, but the species is not native to UK waters.
Shop owner's response
After the video went live, Matt Harrison spoke to Isle of Man Today and said they had moved the tank 'away from the front door, so it's slightly less in people's faces.' He noted that the 'vast majority' of people wanted them to keep the tank and keep 'supporting local.' However, he admitted: 'I'm still mulling it over […] we're just going to see what happens over the next few days.'
The incident has sparked a wider conversation about the ethics of rescuing animals from captivity and the potential ecological impact of releasing non-native species. Edmonds' video has garnered mixed reactions, with some applauding his intentions and others questioning the wisdom of the act.
