From a rainy afternoon in an office at Whitby Lobster Hatchery, we talk with Whitby Lobster Hatchery's Joe Redfern about the practical work behind conservation aquaculture and what it takes to support a real fishing town while rebuilding marine wildlife.

We dig into the hatchery’s core process, including how “buried hens” are brought in with legal dispensation, how V-notching protects breeding females, and why the long-term ambition is bold: one baby lobster released for every lobster caught into Whitby.

Joe also shares an update on the brown crab hatchery, why edible crab stocks are falling nationally, and how new marine biology interns help build capacity and create rare training opportunities in a competitive field.

We also touch on citizen science sightings, fish market improvements, and what a maritime hub could mean for jobs and aspiration in Whitby.

If you care about sustainable fishing, marine conservation, or the future of coastal communities, listen now, share this with someone who loves the sea, and leave us a review so more people can find the Whitby Cast.

Drama isn’t just for the stage, it’s rehearsal for real life. We sit down with Chris Colebrookw from Colebrooke Productions to hear how a local Whitby performing arts school grew from a handful of children into a bustling community of young performers and adult learners, and why Chris is stepping away from his day job at the Whitby Pavilion to put his energy where it’s needed most.

Chris also shares why he wrote an open letter about drama provision at Whitby School, focusing on Key Stage 3. We talk about access and fairness for years 7, 8 and 9, and why drama education supports confidence, communication, imagination and employability. If young people spend so much time on screens, what happens when schools stop giving them structured time to speak, listen and work face to face?

After Chris, we have the usual local round up: the Grosmont suspension footbridge closure and the knock on effect for businesses and residents, fresh questions about the Whitby maritime hub costs and harbour funding, and a first look at the Treasury ahead of its opening on 8 June. Then we finish with seaside essentials: a council seagull strategy, gull stories, and the Royal Navy sending a seaboat to collect 50 portions of Magpie fish and chips.

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We catch up on the week’s most local stories, from rural crime worries in Glaisedale to the creative North Yorkshire Open Studios.

Andrew Snaith joins us to celebrate Whitby Town’s centenary, reliving Wembley 1997 and looking ahead to a summer rebuild and a stronger bond with the community.

A week of Whitby stories runs from an unexpectedly viral Penny Hedge clip to serious local questions about care, public services and wildfire risk. We share what we’re hearing around town, then chat to Archie ahead of the Fish and Ships weekend.

We catch up on a packed Whitby week that swings from hidden local gems to the arguments that flare up when a small town hits peak-season pressure. We share what we’ve heard on traffic, camping, schools, and community support, then look ahead to one of Whitby’s strangest and best-loved traditions.

After our first full week running The Anchor, we’re back with The Whitby Cast - Week Two, to share the surprises, stories, and moments that made us laugh out loud while we tried to keep up.

We discuss marine litter and whether Whitby should rethink crabbing when plastic lines and buckets keep getting left around the harbour.

We chat about our rural crime reporting why a morning dog walk can make you look like a suspect. We also relive a Goth gathering photo mission that ends with a cape trapped in a fire door, then zoom out to what two goth weekends could mean for tourism, safety, overcrowding, and local businesses on narrow streets.

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Meet Emma Ryan and Ceri Oakes who have created a new online newspaper for Whitby.

We share a few memories from our early days in the newsroom and why it shapes what we value most about local journalism. Accuracy, high standards and asking the questions everyone wants to know.

You’ll also hear what’s on our reporting list this week, questions around Eskdale School, Whitby RNLI shout figures and the always-divisive dog beach ban.

If you care about Whitby news, local democracy, community life, and trustworthy reporting, follow along.

Subscribe to the podcast, share it with someone who loves Whitby, leave us a review, then tell us what we should cover next.