An English fisherman has accidentally caught a rare blue lobster in Belfast Lough, considering it the catch of a lifetime.
The blue lobster caught by 28-year-old fisherman Stuart Brown. (Photo: Stuart Brown).
Stuart Brown, a 28-year-old fisherman from Bangor, County Down, discovered a live lobster with a “remarkably unusual appearance.”
The lobster was found near the Blackhead lighthouse. Mr. Brown released it after taking photos because it was smaller than the standard catch size.
“Maybe it’s still out there offshore, happily swimming along with the current. If someone catches this blue lobster again, I hope they will release it too,” he shared.
Mr. Stuart Brown, the fisherman who caught the rare lobster. (Photo: PA Wire).
Brown’s boat was at a depth of 15-18 meters when he caught the lobster. “I pushed the bucket for another fisherman to lift it up, and he said it was very blue,” he recounted.
“Sometimes it’s normal to see lobsters that are brown or red; they just stand out more than others, but this time it was really different.”
“I Googled to see how rare it is, and the odds of catching one are about one in two million,” Brown told the press.
For Brown, this is one of the most extraordinary and wonderful experiences he has had since he began fishing at the age of 11.
While there have been similar discoveries in various regions across England, this is the first time Brown has heard of a blue lobster.
Close-up of the ultra-rare blue lobster. (Photo: PA Wire).
Most lobsters are dark brown, but some individuals exhibit unusual shades such as orange, red, and yellow.
According to scientists, the unusual blue color of the lobster is due to genetics.
Genetic differences can cause some lobsters to produce more of certain proteins compared to others.
Blue lobsters are believed to be so rare that some marine biologists estimate the chance of catching one is about one in two million.
