Blue Lobster Facts

Blue lobsters are no different from any other lobster except for their appearance; instead of the traditional reddish brown coloring, these creatures are a bright blue. Blue lobsters are very rare finds and have simultaneous advantages and disadvantages that other lobsters do not.

  1. Rarity

    • The rare blue pigmentation is generally believed to appear in about one in every million lobsters.

    Cause

    • A genetic defect that leads to an overproduction of protein is believed to be responsible for this pigmentation. The protein fuses with a red carotenoid molecule to create crustacyanin. The crustacyanin causes the blue coloration.

    Predation

    • Blue lobsters are more easily recognizable by predators, meaning that their chances of survival in the wild are slimmer than lobsters with standard pigmentation. Red lobsters can blend in more easily with their natural environment.

    Aggression

    • Because of the added impediments to their survival, blue lobsters that are able to survive to adulthood develop a greater degree of aggression than other lobsters.

    Capture

    • Because of their rarity, blue lobsters that are captured by fishermen typically are sent to aquariums rather than dinner plates. However, if they are cooked, blue lobsters turn red during the boiling process just like their comrades.