South Sea Exclusive: sustainable breeding of spiny lobsters

South Sea Exclusive is a mariculture company, specialized in the sustainable breeding and production of spiny lobsters in the Philippines, and provides environmental education, nature conservation and economic development programs for the local community in the surrounding area where the company operates through the South Sea Exclusive Foundation.

South Sea Exclusive is an initiative of Dutch entrepreneurs Jonah van Beijnen, Peter van der Werf and Bouke Batema, who studied environmental science and nature conservation at the Wageningen University and Research Centre. During their university years, they noticed the impact that abusive mariculture practices, pollution and poverty had in the Philippines. Their business plan for South Sea Exclusive was born from the need to actually make a difference. By commercially breeding spiny lobsters on the island of Palawan, they killed 3 birds in one shot.

A highly prized delicacy in danger
Spiny lobsters are a highly prized marine resource and due to the lack of proper fishery management, they are now severely threatened in most populated areas where they naturally occur. Prices for spiny lobsters doubled in the last two years and demand keeps increasing.

Progress made after BiD Challenge 2007
South Sea Exclusive won the BiD Challenge 2007. The cash prize was donated to the South Sea Exclusive Foundation. In the mean time, South Sea Exclusive gathered a team of scientists to develop the hatchery protocol. The process of arranging all the needed permits is almost accomplished. In collaboration with 3-Bay Aquaculture, South Sea Exclusive runs a trial production at the moment.

Read more about the progress and plans in the South Sea Exclusive site