A fishermen in Bristol, Maine landed a rare yellow lobster on December 7, 2024, two months after a similar catch in Nantucket, Massachusetts.  

According to News Center Maine, Max Moody caught the crustacean after finding it among his traps on the nearby wharf. 

Even though lobsters come in a variety of tinges from the typical mottled brown to orange,  blue and yellow are exceptions.

Experts in the University of New England attribute the coloration to genetic and dietary differences. 

They also certify that the yellow tinge is rarer than the blue one, which also implies an astronomical market price.

1-in-30 Million 

The golden-colored crawfish especially are so rare that catching them is a one-in-thirty million opportunity. 

Thus it joins rare mainstream seafood such as blue lobster and bluefin tuna, although the last is rare because of size. 

For now, the University of Maine will keep the Bristol rarity at its Walpole marine research center for further studies.

In retrospect, the Nantucket catch back in October 2024 eventually made its return to its ocean environment after release.

Blue and Yellow Lobster Pricey Animals?

By their very rarity and association with good fortune for those who catch them, yellow lobsters can be quite valuable.

The closest price comparison is by way of the one-in-two million blue lobster, which sells for $500 per crustacean. It also leaves a hole in the pocket as a restaurant meal at up to $650 per serving.

In September 2023, a blue lobster dinner cost visiting royals in France 450,000 euro ($486,900).

Still, this is only a spur of the moment valuation for in reality most novel lobsters never make it to the market. 

Ultimately, the two finds in New England in two months indicates increasing evens for a crustacean with such great catching odds. But as the statistics below indicate, these catches are still a drop in the ocean vis-á-vis common lobster.

Yellow Lobster Statistics

Deriving their tinge from genetic mutation, which gives their carapace a shiny pigment, yellow lobsters attract researchers. Some collectors even just display these colorful crustaceans without selling them for good luck or to attract buyers. In terms of habitat, they live mainly in Maine, which accounts for about 80% of all American lobster species catches. 

How many yellow lobsters are there on the American Atlantic coast? 

Since yellow lobsters thrive in the Northwest Atlantic, one can calculate their population by the average yearly catches of all crawfish. For one, there are usually 150 million pounds worth of American lobster catches per year. This means the 1-in-30 million chance yellow lobster would make only 5 individual catches out of this total. If each averaged 7 pounds based on previous catches, the 5 individuals would make 35 pounds.