Ultra-Rare 'Cotton Candy' Lobster Catches Attention in Maine
A lobsterman and his crew discovered the unusually colored crustacean, estimated to have odds of one in 100 million.
A lobsterman in Searsport, Maine, and his crew have captured an exceptionally rare "cotton candy" lobster, with estimated odds of finding such a specimen at one in 100 million. The unusually colored lobster was caught last Wednesday during what is described as a routine day of hauling traps.
Bill Kirby, owner of Kirby's Lobster Shack, who has been in the lobstering business for over four decades, noted the lobster's striking appearance upon its retrieval. "It just glowed, you know," Kirby told WMTV. He described the moment the trap was opened, revealing the brightly colored lobster among others.
The distinctive coloration is attributed to a genetic color mutation. Kirby ensured the lobster was safely brought back to land and placed in tanks. He plans to donate the "cotton candy" lobster to the Oceanarium and Education Center in Bar Harbor, allowing others to see the rare find.
Kirby emphasized the importance of such discoveries for the broader lobster industry, stating, "It's major. And it’s not just to see lobsters like that, but it's to keep the industry going for our kids. We have to protect it."
At present, the cotton candy lobster is being kept at Kirby's Lobster Shack in Belfast, Maine. The discovery highlights the unique and sometimes surprising finds within the region's vital fishing industry.
