Transforming Shellfish Storage with Todd Fish Tech’s Lobster Pod
As featured in Fishing News, October 2022
From DIY system to the Lobster Pod
For Daniel Swann of The Net Shop in Hastings, investing in a Todd Fish Tech Lobster Pod marked a turning point in the way his business handles live shellfish. Before adopting the purpose-built system, Daniel relied on a makeshift setup comprising a storage tank, air filters, and a garden pond pump with a box filter. While it served a basic function, the system came with no shortage of headaches—from high mortality rates to time-consuming maintenance and frustrating inefficiencies.
Positive Experience
In the summer of 2021, Daniel and his team took the leap and installed a Lobster Pod, and they haven’t looked back. From the very start, the experience was positive. Even before an order was placed, Todd Fish Tech’s Errin was on hand, offering friendly, knowledgeable advice about best practices for holding live shellfish. That level of support continued throughout the installation and beyond.
Immediate Transformation
The transformation was immediate and impressive. Apart from a brief challenge during the filter maturation stage—an important part of setting up any recirculating system—the Lobster Pod has been running flawlessly. Mortality rates dropped dramatically to just 0.5%, a fraction of what they had experienced with the homemade system.
Space Saving and Easy to use
The vertical stacking design of the Lobster Pod has enabled The Net Shop to maximise their limited space, increasing capacity without requiring a larger footprint. The tray system has also brought an unexpected benefit: stock can now be graded during loading, allowing for better inventory control and easier access. Gone are the days of fishing around blindly with a net to retrieve live animals. Now, every lobster is clearly visible, easy to access, and far less stressed.
Multi Species in the one system
While lobsters remain the primary species held in the system, Daniel and his team have successfully trialled brown crab and are now looking to experiment with langoustines. With the ability to hold shellfish live, The Net Shop can now sell in smaller quantities over a longer period—giving their customers greater flexibility and reducing pressure on supply chains.
Benefits of the Lobster Pod
Operational efficiency has seen a huge boost. Not only is it faster and easier to retrieve stock, but maintenance demands have also decreased significantly. The days of frequent, large-volume water changes are gone, thanks to the advanced filtration built into the Lobster Pod.
An added and unexpected benefit is the improved quality of the cooked product. Because lobsters are held in calm, optimal conditions before cooking, they are less stressed and therefore cook up better—leading to a noticeable improvement in taste and texture.
For Daniel, the investment in a Lobster Pod was about more than just convenience or efficiency—it was about responsibility. He believes that while shellfish are ultimately destined for consumption, they still deserve to be treated with care and respect. Providing them with the best possible conditions, right up to the end, is not only better for the animal but also for the final product.
Daniel’s message to other fishmongers and fishermen:
His message to others in the industry is clear: if you’re considering a lobster tank system, speak with Todd Fish Tech. Daniel describes their system as the best turnkey solution on the UK market and can’t recommend them highly enough. With top-tier customer service, expert advice, and a system that performs exactly as promised, he says it’s been a 10 out of 10 experience.
“We would buy again from Todd Fish Tech 100%. If you’re on the fence, just talk to Errin and Keith. They truly know their stuff, and the system has completely changed how we do things here.”
