Rare Peach Lobster in Maine Hatches Multi-Colored Babies

The cold coastal waters of northern New England make for some rare sea life specimens.  Take Peaches, a rare peach colored lobster found off the coast of Maine and donated to the University of New England for research.

A few weeks ago, a lobsterman caught a rare blue lobster off the coast of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and it's now being observed at the Seacoast Science Center in Rye.

Peaches is a rare, one-in-30 million peach-colored lobster who arrived at the Girard Marine Science Center at the University of New England last June.  "Students and faculty are studying the genetic basis of her rare coloration", according to une.edu.

Peaches was caught by a Scarborough, Maine, fisherman in Casco Bay, then brought to the University.  Remember, lobsters are normally a very dark brown, and don't turn red until they are cooked.

The Maine university has received a $5,000 grant for further studies on the unique colors of these lobsters.  Student Ruby Motulsky ('25) is working with Dr. Markus Frederich, professor of marine sciences at UNE.  Ruby will be chronicling the research on the university's social media.

With over 100 babies of different coloration, the project will be closely watched for developments by scholars and those with curious minds.

The new studies include a few other rare lobsters found by fishing vessels, including a half-brown, half-blue lobster named Current, and a purple lobster named Fig, caught and donated by UNE alum Aubrey Jane ('20).

READ MORE: Blue Lobster Photos and Story

While some of the babies are blue, others are peach, and others are a normal color, the researchers will wait to see if their color changes as they mature.

At this point, researchers do not know why there are color variations in lobsters. But UNE is determined to work with the local fishing industry to study these colorful commodities before they are released back into their natural habitat.

This is an exciting project to watch in our region.