In his four decades as a lobster fisherman, Robert Wagner encountered a unique discovery: a lobster with a striking half-blue, half-orange coloration, divided down the middle from head to tail. Wagner expressed his surprise at the rare find, naming the lobster Oscar and likening him to a fortunate Academy Award winner.
This extraordinary lobster was caught in one of Wagner’s traps near Blue Rocks, off Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Intrigued by Oscar’s appearance, Wagner and his family decided to share the discovery with Dalhousie University, hoping to provide the lobster with a safe environment. Nadia Stewart from Dalhousie’s Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity emphasized the importance of rescuing such lobsters from the wild, where their unique colors could make them vulnerable to predators.
Stewart explained that Oscar’s distinct coloration resulted from a genetic mutation, occurring in approximately one out of every 50 million lobsters. She noted that albino lobsters, like Oscar, are even rarer, with a frequency of about one in 100 million lobsters. After caring for Oscar for a month, the Wagner family arranged for him to be transported to Dalhousie University in Halifax, where a special license was required for the journey.
Since arriving at his new home, Oscar has adapted well, surprising staff by shedding his shell recently. The staff decided to display his old blue-orange shell and give him time to recover before returning him to public view once his new shell hardens. Oscar’s genetic coloration will persist in his new shell, maintaining his distinctive appearance.
Robert Wagner expressed his gratitude for Oscar being in good hands, hopeful that the lobster will enjoy a fulfilling life in his new environment.