More local news is available on pages in Snowdonia, Borderlands, Isle of Anglesey and North Wales Coastal Resorts sections.

Lobster Hatchery of Wales celebrates its official opening.

Thanks to the enthusiastic staff, and generous financial help of the Wales Tourist Board and private sponsors, the Lobster Hatchery of Wales at Anglesey Sea Zoo is celebrating its official opening on Wednesday, June 2nd.

Season ticket holders, local suppliers and dignitaries will enjoy special talks by expert staff, as well as the chance to handle a lobster, before the opening ceremony is performed by Dudley, the celebrity chef.

Dudley will be asked to v-notch a lobster. This painless procedure is performed before the females are returned to the sea after they have hatched their eggs. The mark can remain for up to 2 years and during that period the lobster cannot be landed or sold by fishermen so it will get another opportunity to breed.

It may strike some people as odd that a chef has been asked to open what is essentially a conservation project but as Hatchery Supervisor Clare White explained, ‘ This project initially came about because of over fishing around Anglesey. We recognise that people will still want to eat lobster and fishermen continue to need to make a living with their pots. This is one way that we can help conserve the stock in the areas around our coast.’

Dudley is a keen supporter of all good quality Welsh foods and has already generously donated a special recipe for lobsters, with the essential inclusion of Halen Môn which is also produced on site.

Food will be provided by the Strait’s Bistro and the menu has been designed to allow guests to taste some newly created flavours of Halen Môn as well as other examples of Anglesey produce, but, sadly, no lobsters!

For further information, including opening times, visit www.angleseyseazoo.co.uk

Story added 28 May 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Anglesey Sea Zoo, Brynsiencyn, Anglesey.
Contact: Alison Lea-Wilson
Phone: 01248 430411, Fax: 01248 430213
e-mail: fishandfun@seazoo.demon.co.uk

BORN TO BE WILD!

STORY ADDED 1ST April 2003

Shaken Anglesey Sea Zoo Staff confirmed today that there had been an escape involving two of their slender or long-snouted seahorses (Hippocampus reidi). Explained a stunned Vickie Hickin: ‘I came in this morning ready to feed the seahorses as usual. When I removed the tank lid I felt this sharp kick. The next thing I knew was that two of them had disappeared.’ The seahorses, seized by HM Customs Officers at Heathrow last November, were originally wild stock from Florida. Not having been bred in captivity they were naturally more difficult to ‘break in’ and had needed careful handling. It is believed the pair had been plotting their escape ever since the male had fallen pregnant, as they wanted to bring their babies up as American citizens.

Welsh saint tempts back lovers to Anglesey - Island of Romance

The Welsh patron saint of lovers, Santes Dwynwen, will spearhead a new tourism drive to attract visitors to the Island of Anglesey between now and Easter. As well as divine help from the saintly Dwynwen, Anglesey Tourism Association (ATA) has enlisted help from the National Assembly for Wales to create a special Ynys Môn Amour … Anglesey Island of Romance campaign.

Last year, businesses on the island were badly affected by a downturn in visitor numbers during the foot and mouth crisis. So, as soon as Anglesey was declared open again, owners of Anglesey's hotels, restaurants and attractions got together to plan a novel marketing initiative based on the theme of romance. Starting with Santes Dwynwen's Day (25 January), the period sees several romantic and other celebrations such as Valentine's Day, National Flirting Week (11-15 February), Mothering Sunday (10 March), as well as Easter weekend.

The Island of Anglesey has traditionally been a romantic honeymoon destination, as well as home to many a holiday romance. During the 1950s and 1960s it enjoyed enormous cachet amongst visitors from North West England, the Borders, Wales and Ireland. Just how much of this can be attributed to the island's association with Santes Dwynwen is a matter of conjecture, but the fact is that she spent her life there and today an off-shore church ruins bear testimony to a life devoted to fulfilling the wishes of lovers!

"Many of those holidaymakers and honeymooners are retired now, and hopefully free to come and visit during the off-peak season," said ATA Chairman, David Robertson. "During the campaign, we shall be contacting a wide range of local newspapers and radio stations with competitions to find the most romantic stories associated with Anglesey. We'd also like to find the oldest surviving honeymoon couple and people who met on holiday romances to invite them back."

"Also in terms of Santes Dwynwen, to date we have not made enough of our association with her legend, and indeed our other strong Celtic links. So as part of this initiative, and as a longer term promotion, we are hoping that our special website will attract interest from overseas as well, especially America."

10,000 copies of a Passport to Romance brochure will feature a novel range of romantic special offers and incentives for visitors to the island. Meanwhile a special website www.angleseyromance.com is underway featuring offers, special free bilingual (Welsh English) E-Dwynwen/Valentine cards and comprehensive details of myths surrounding Santes Dwynwen!

For more information, visit www.angleseyromance.com 


Story added 25th January 2002