They call him Mr. Blu Genes

WARREN (May 24): As if on cue to greet the Midcoast's first anticipated tourists this Memorial Day weekend, a Cushing lobsterman pulled a bright blue lobster from a trap Thursday.

(Photo by Holy Anderson, Village Soup)

Randy Maloney caught the unusual crustacean off Burnt Island while fishing from his boat, the Shelby Lynn on May 18.

Jeff Brow, of the family-owned Oyster River Lobster on Route 90 in Warren, buys lobster from Maloney and was happy to receive the blue lobster from the fisherman last week.

"Randy discovered it in his traps and save it out and gave it to my dad," said Josh Brow.

Jeff Brow said that the blue lobster weighs one-a-quarter pounds, making it either a youngster or a very light eater.

Excited about their colorful and unique acquisition, the Brows are looking forward to sharing their newest attraction with visitors.

"We've already had people stopping in to see it," Josh Brow said.

In addition to garnering its own special basket in the store's display tank, replete with fresh clams and some cooked shrimp, the Brows has also given the creature a name.

"We're calling him Mr. Blu Genes," said Josh Brow.

According to the Gulf of Maine Institute, a blue lobster occurs once in every 3 to 4 million lobsters. The chances of finding a red lobster, still alive, are 1 in 10 million.

By Holly Anderson
Camden Bureau Chief