Rare blue lobster released in Plymouth Sound
September 13, 2023Divers exploring the wreckage of an 18th-century ship near Drake’s Island in Plymouth Sound had an unexpected encounter when they released a rare blue lobster back into the wild. Mallory Hass, an archaeologist and director of The Ships Project, was diving when a pot fisherman approached their dive boat and gave them a vibrant female blue lobster. Recognizing that this coloration is unusual, the fisherman wanted the lobster to be set free. The divers placed the lobster in a location where divers and fishing activities are scarce, ensuring that she can enjoy a long and happy life. Blue lobsters are incredibly rare, with odds of one in two million, and this particular lobster is estimated to be around 50 years old. Blue lobsters get their unique hue from a genetic abnormality that leads to the overproduction of a protein. The divers captured images of the lobster before releasing her, providing a fascinating glimpse of this unusual creature.
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