Fishmongers Acquire Highly Coveted Lobster, Tenderly Set It Free to Enjoy an Enriched and Endless Journey of Blissful Freedom
An Uncommonly Beautiful Blue Lobster Saved from the Plate
An extremely rare bright blue lobster recently caught the attention of a French fish merchant. The vibrant crustacean, with its unique hue, was spared from becoming a culinary delicacy thanks to the efforts of Les Viviers de Noirmoutier, a fish and seafood merchant in Saint-Gilles on the west coast of France. This remarkable lobster was returned to the deep sea to live out its days. Keep reading to find out more about this fascinating creature and its unusual coloration.
A Rarity Among Lobsters
Unlike the typical dark orange color of lobsters, this specimen stands out with its dazzling blue shell. The striking coloration is the result of a genetic mutation, making this lobster an extraordinary find. Les Viviers de Noirmoutier revealed that such instances of blue lobsters occur at a rate of about 1 in 1 to 2 million. The rarity of these vibrant creatures makes their discovery all the more special.
The Efforts to Preserve Beauty
Les Viviers de Noirmoutier
Les Viviers de Noirmoutier was determined to protect the rare lobster from being used for culinary purposes. In a translated Facebook post, they stated, “We did our best to get this beautiful blue lobster (by the way it’s a small female) to prevent it from being sold for culinary purposes.” They also shared captivating pictures of the elusive crustacean, showcasing its vibrant blue color.
An Unusual Coloration
The color of a lobster’s shell is primarily determined by two pigments: astaxanthin and crustacyanin. Astaxanthin is responsible for the red shades found in most lobsters, while crustacyanin, which consists of astaxanthin bound to a protein, produces blue shades. Blue lobsters and other rare color morphs have abnormalities in the production of these pigments, resulting in their stunning and unexpected colorations.
According to a 2005 report by the New York Times, blue lobsters are estimated to have a one-in-two-million occurrence. To put their rarity into perspective, yellow lobsters have a one-in-30-million likelihood, while two-toned lobsters are only found once in every 50 million lobsters. These statistics, provided by the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, highlight just how extraordinary finding a blue lobster truly is.
A Unique Journey to Freedom
Les Viviers de Noirmoutier
The fish merchants at Les Viviers de Noirmoutier made sure the blue lobster’s journey did not end on a plate. They joined forces with the tourism office of l’Ile d’Yeu to find a forbidden fishing area near the island where they could release the rare crustacean. With the assistance of Sebastian from the boat LNA, they made sure the lobster was safely escorted to its destination, where it could live a long, peaceful, and happy life.
The merchants couldn’t bid farewell to the lobster without giving it a fitting nickname. They turned to their followers for suggestions, and names such as Smurfette, Azurelle, and Sapphire were proposed. This interactive approach allowed people to connect with the story and share their creative ideas.
Les Viviers de Noirmoutier
Previous Encounters with Blue Lobsters
The discovery of this blue lobster in France is not the first of its kind. In recent times, another blue lobster was caught by a fisherman in Maine. However, the latest catch is exceptionally vibrant and stands out as one of the bluest lobsters found by experts in the area. The rarity of blue lobsters makes these encounters few and far between, leaving many fisherman in awe of their remarkable beauty and uniqueness.
Blake Haass, a fisherman from Mount Desert Island, expressed his excitement about finding the blue lobster. He was amazed by the intensity of its blue color and considered himself fortunate to have come across such a rare creature. He acknowledged the infrequency of these encounters, emphasizing how lucky he felt to have caught the remarkable lobster.
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