In a rare stroke of luck, a female shrimp fisher from New Hampshire in the United States recently encountered a once-in-a-lifetime moment by catching a rare bright yellow lobster that many of her peers may never see in their entire careers.
On July 16, Nicole Feldotto, a shrimp fisher from Hampton, caught a bright yellow lobster off the coast of Rye, New Hampshire. This female lobster weighed approximately 1.5 pounds (about 0.68 kilograms) and exhibited a rare genetic mutation, with the likelihood of this mutation occurring in lobster populations estimated to be about one in thirty million.
Feldotto shared a video of this rare catch on Instagram. She expressed her surprise and joy when the lobster appeared in her shrimp trap, stating that it was an unexpected and thrilling moment for her.
“At the age of 32, I have caught two rare lobsters in my career,” Feldotto told the local TV station WUMR. “Four years ago, I caught an orange lobster, which I thought would be the highlight of my career, but now, catching a yellow one tops it.”
“When it was pulled up, I couldn’t help but scream, thinking to myself, ‘Oh my gosh!'” she added.
Despite the excitement of catching the bright yellow lobster, Feldotto and her crew did not keep it. The lobster had a “V” notch on its tail, indicating that it was a female lobster carrying eggs, which meant it was protected under lobster conservation regulations.
The crew released the lobster back into the ocean, marking it with a new “V” notch to ensure its continued protection and contribution to the lobster population’s reproduction.
Lobsters are typically mottled brown, aiding in their camouflage on the seafloor. However, lobsters can also exhibit rare colors such as orange, blue, or even dual-toned patterns. The variation in lobster colors stems from genetic mutations, but these mutations are exceptionally rare.
Why are these color variants in lobsters so uncommon? Firstly, the rate of mutations behind these variations is extremely low. Moreover, brightly colored lobsters are more vulnerable to predation, decreasing their likelihood of surviving long enough to pass on their genes.