Robert Wagner, a lobster fisherman with 40 years of experience, recently caught a rare half-blue, half-orange lobster off the coast of Blue Rocks in Nova Scotia. This unique crustacean, named Oscar by Wagner, was a sight to behold, with its distinct coloration splitting down the middle from head to tail.
Upon discovering Oscar, Wagner was amazed and decided to share this remarkable find with others. His daughter suggested reaching out to Dalhousie University to see if they would be interested in taking in Oscar.
Nadia Stewart, from Dalhousie’s Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to care for Oscar, mentioning that lobsters with such standout colors often face threats in the wild due to predators. Stewart explained that Oscar’s rare color mutation occurs in about one out of every 50 million lobsters.
After a month of care by the Wagner family, Oscar was transported to Dalhousie University in Halifax. He has since acclimated well to his new environment, even shedding his shell recently. The old shell, displaying the distinctive blue-orange colors, was put on exhibit, and Oscar is currently taking time off to recover from molting.
Stewart mentioned that once Oscar’s new shell hardens, he will be back on display. Given that Oscar’s unique coloration is genetic, his new shell is expected to also exhibit the same blue and orange hues.
Robert Wagner expressed his satisfaction with the decision to donate Oscar, stating, “We’re just grateful that it got in the right hands and hope [Oscar] has a good life.”
Oscar’s story continues to captivate many, shedding light on the extraordinary diversity found in the ocean’s depths.
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