Crab meat insight offers returns boost for fishermen
Stephen O’Connell, a fourth-year student at Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna, has collected data on protein levels and harvestable meat from more than 800 crabs from his father’s and uncle’s boat. The aim of his entry to the 50th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition was to see how accurate the colour of the underside of the shell is at predicting the quality and quantity of meat in crab claws.
If this system of his father’s to grade crab proved accurate enough for use in modern-fishing, his plan has been to develop a colour chart that would enable fishermen easily classify the quality in their catches. Judging by his past experience as a two-times award winner at previous events, he may be in with a good shot of success when the winners are announced at teatime on Friday evening.
