UWE WILDLIFE GRANT

CLAW & ORDER

By MIKEY SNEDDON

ABOUT THE FILM

"Claw & Order" reveals the collaborative efforts of local fishermen and scientists striving to revive an ecosystem long devastated by historical pollution and overfishing and now a sudden mass crustacean extinction event.

This short documentary offers a glimpse into the legacy of fishermen Luke and James, as they endure the cold North Sea, pulling up pots, not only to provide for their families and continue their family legacy but also to secure the future of lobster stocks by seeking ’Berried Hens,’ female lobsters carrying precious eggs for the Whitby Lobster Hatchery.

At the hatchery, scientist Joe, is the surrogate father of over 20,000 juvenile lobsters, destined for release into the wild. From the moment they’re flicked from their mother’s abdomen, we follow the juvenile lobsters fragile journey through the hatchery - learning to swim, hide, and avoid being eaten by their cannibalistic siblings - until they’re finally released back into the wild bolstering stocks for years to come…the future of this long enduring coastal community is in their claws!

WATCH THE FULL FILM HERE

UWE WILDLIFE GRANT WINNER

MIKEY SNEDDON

Mikey is an award-winning filmmaker from Scotland, with a decade of experience editing, directing, and shooting. He’s now based in Bristol specialising in documentary and natural history filmmaking. His broadcast credits include work for BBC Two, BBC Scotland, and STV. Mikey has collaborated with global brands and organisations including Sony, Hilton, RSPB, WHO, and WWF, filming internationally in places like Fiji, Malta, Portugal, the US and at home in Scotland. his work on short-form documentaries has earned multiple RTS awards, recognition from Jackson Wild and now… the My World Film Grant! Mikey takes pride in telling authentic narratives and to be trusted with complex and sensitive subject matters. He’s passionate about developing strong visual identities that enhance the story and help them to leave a lasting impact. Mikey greatly enjoys the physical and mental demands of filming in challenging environments whether that’s up mountains, on rocky fishing boats or in Michelin star kitchens. He always bring good vibes to any shoot and get stuck into whatever needs doing!

THE MISSION

RESTORE MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Claw & Order champions the urgent fight to restore marine ecosystems and sustain coastal livelihoods in the face of ecological collapse. When a mysterious extinction event wiped out crustacean populations along England’s northeast coast, it wasn’t just marine life at risk - it was a way of life. This film follows the fishermen, scientists, and community members of Whitby who refuse to give up. Through a blend of traditional knowledge and innovative conservation, they’re working to rebuild lobster stocks and revive a damaged sea. At its core, Claw & Order is about resilience: of ecosystems, of communities, and of the hard-shelled species they depend on. It’s a story of action, stewardship, and hope - with claws.

IMPACT

Claw & Order is helping shine a national spotlight on a little-known ecological disaster and the powerful grassroots response rising in its wake.

Through community screenings, educational outreach, and environmental film festivals, the film is raising awareness about the sharp decline in crustacean populations off the Yorkshire coast — and the potential of local conservation to turn the tide.

The film directly supports the work of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, where science meets tradition to breed, nurture, and release tens of thousands of juvenile lobsters each year. By telling the story of the hatchery and the fishermen who support it, Claw & Order helps foster public understanding of sustainable fisheries and the critical importance of protecting reproductive females — or ‘berried hens’ — to ensure long-term ocean health.

With its no-nonsense tone, working-class pride, and cold-sea grit, Claw & Order invites viewers to see conservation not as a distant ideal, but as a practical, community-led effort. It asks: what if restoring nature wasn’t just possible — but already underway, pot by pot, claw by claw?