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Massachusetts Fishermen catch with Rare Blue Lobster
A Massachusetts fishing crew recently pulled off what amounts to winning the biological lottery, hauling in one of nature’s rarest marine prizes: a brilliant blue lobster.
The crew of the fishing boat “Michael and Erin,” operating out of Beverly, discovered the stunning crustacean in their catch during early summer. With odds of finding a blue lobster sitting at roughly one in two million, this catch represents a rare feat for New England waters.
Rather than heading to the market, the blue lobster was taken to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. The crew had one specific request: they didn’t want anyone to eat their rare find.
“They contacted DMF with the explicit instructions that they didn’t want anybody to eat it,” said Forrest Kennedy, seawater lab manager at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology, which now houses the lobster.
The Massachusetts coast – home to world-class lobster fishing and the occasional genetic marvel
The male lobster weighs approximately 1.25 pounds and is estimated to be between seven and nine years old. At this size, he’s still relatively young, considering lobsters can live up to 100 years in the wild.
The lobster’s striking coloration results from a rare genetic anomaly that overproduces a protein called crustacyanin. This protein gives the shell its distinctive blue appearance, creating a vibrant specimen that Kennedy describes as “bright, gorgeous blue.”
With researchers estimating that only 10 to 20 blue lobsters are discovered annually across all fishing operations, this Beverly crew’s find represents a significant contribution to marine science understanding.
The blue lobster now resides in an educational touch tank at SMAST’s East campus in New Bedford, where it serves as a living classroom for students and visitors learning about marine biodiversity. The facility welcomes school groups and curious members of the public who want to observe this natural rarity up close.
The lobster shares its tank peacefully with starfish, clams, and small fish, providing an interactive learning experience about New England’s coastal ecosystem.
While the lobster remains unnamed, Chancellor Mark Fuller is considering hosting a naming ceremony to officially welcome SMAST’s newest resident to its educational mission.
Worth $60 per pound compared to regular lobster’s $13-15, blue lobsters are a sight most fishermen never see in their lifetime.
For those seaflood lovers wondering about the commercial side of these rare catches, blue lobsters taste virtually identical to their regular counterparts, despite some claims that they’re sweeter. The only true difference is that the fresher the lobster is, the better it tastes, regardless of its exterior color.
However, when these rare specimens do make it to market, they command premium prices that reflect their scarcity rather than superior flavor. One Maine steakhouse sold blue lobster for $60 per pound, while high-end establishments have charged as much as $560 for blue lobster and wagyu combinations. For comparison, regular Maine lobster currently sells for around $13-15 per pound.
Most of the rare mutated blue lobsters caught in American waters never reach dinner plates. Due to their rarity, they are usually donated to an aquarium or released into the wild, exactly like the Beverly crew’s generous decision with their remarkable find.
The post Massachusetts Fishermen catch with Rare Blue Lobster appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...
Massachusetts Fishermen catch with Rare Blue Lobster
A Massachusetts fishing crew recently pulled off what amounts to winning the biological lottery, hauling in one of nature’s rarest marine prizes: a brilliant blue lobster.
The crew of the fishing boat “Michael and Erin,” operating out of Beverly, discovered the stunning crustacean in their catch during early summer. With odds of finding a blue lobster sitting at roughly one in two million, this catch represents a rare feat for New England waters.
Rather than heading to the market, the blue lobster was taken to the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. The crew had one specific request: they didn’t want anyone to eat their rare find.
“They contacted DMF with the explicit instructions that they didn’t want anybody to eat it,” said Forrest Kennedy, seawater lab manager at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science & Technology, which now houses the lobster.
The Massachusetts coast – home to world-class lobster fishing and the occasional genetic marvel
The male lobster weighs approximately 1.25 pounds and is estimated to be between seven and nine years old. At this size, he’s still relatively young, considering lobsters can live up to 100 years in the wild.
The lobster’s striking coloration results from a rare genetic anomaly that overproduces a protein called crustacyanin. This protein gives the shell its distinctive blue appearance, creating a vibrant specimen that Kennedy describes as “bright, gorgeous blue.”
With researchers estimating that only 10 to 20 blue lobsters are discovered annually across all fishing operations, this Beverly crew’s find represents a significant contribution to marine science understanding.
The blue lobster now resides in an educational touch tank at SMAST’s East campus in New Bedford, where it serves as a living classroom for students and visitors learning about marine biodiversity. The facility welcomes school groups and curious members of the public who want to observe this natural rarity up close.
The lobster shares its tank peacefully with starfish, clams, and small fish, providing an interactive learning experience about New England’s coastal ecosystem.
While the lobster remains unnamed, Chancellor Mark Fuller is considering hosting a naming ceremony to officially welcome SMAST’s newest resident to its educational mission.
Worth $60 per pound compared to regular lobster’s $13-15, blue lobsters are a sight most fishermen never see in their lifetime.
For those seaflood lovers wondering about the commercial side of these rare catches, blue lobsters taste virtually identical to their regular counterparts, despite some claims that they’re sweeter. The only true difference is that the fresher the lobster is, the better it tastes, regardless of its exterior color.
However, when these rare specimens do make it to market, they command premium prices that reflect their scarcity rather than superior flavor. One Maine steakhouse sold blue lobster for $60 per pound, while high-end establishments have charged as much as $560 for blue lobster and wagyu combinations. For comparison, regular Maine lobster currently sells for around $13-15 per pound.
Most of the rare mutated blue lobsters caught in American waters never reach dinner plates. Due to their rarity, they are usually donated to an aquarium or released into the wild, exactly like the Beverly crew’s generous decision with their remarkable find.
The post Massachusetts Fishermen catch with Rare Blue Lobster appeared first on OutdoorHub.
Continue reading...