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Jesse Joe · 10-10-2008, 08:13 AM

Rare lobster saved from pot

Published Thursday October 9th, 2008

Fisherman donates Autumn to N.B. aquarium even though YouTube viewers say 'eat it'

BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

An extremely rare yellow lobster caught in the Northumberland Strait near Richibucto Village last weekend will escape the cooking pot and find a new home at the Marine Centre Aquarium in Shippagan.

This yellow lobster was caught in the Northumberland Strait near Richibucto Village by fishermen from Elsipogtog.

Fisherman Danny Knockwood of the Elsipogtog First Nation said yesterday he has been in contact with the aquarium, which is operated by the provincial government as a tourist attraction and education centre.
Curator Aurele Godin said he'd be happy to add Autumn to his collection of rare lobsters.
"In captivity, the lobster could live for many years," Godin said yesterday. "And I've got many other coloured ones -- blue ones, yellow ones, orange and blacks. Every year fishermen come up with them. They call me and I go pick them up."
Knockwood found the yellow lobster -- which he named Autumn -- while pulling his traps from the Northumberland Strait at the end of the season. Regular lobsters are normally a dark green colour with dark spots but Autumn has a distinct yellow colour on top and is nearly white on the bottom.
A specialist from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans who examined photos and a video of the crustacean told the Times & Transcript that odd-coloured lobsters are rare but not uncommon. He said genetic defects sometimes cause a lobster's shell to develop a different colour. There have been reports over the years of blue, dark red, white and even yellow lobsters. The specialist said the different colour would have no bearing on its overall health or taste if it was cooked. Autumn is a female lobster and estimated to be nine or 10 years old. The DFO scientist pegged the odds of a yellow lobster as one in 10 million.
Shortly after catching the lobster, Knockwood photographed it and put a video on the YouTube. As of yesterday, the video had been viewed over 500 times and there were seven comments from viewers, most of whom suggested that he simply 'eat it.'
Knockwood said he didn't want to eat Autumn and would rather donate her to the aquarium where she can be seen. As of yesterday afternoon, Autumn was being kept in an underwater cage near Knockwood's home.
The aquarium and museum focuses on New Brunswick's fishing industry with exhibits of gear, equipment and boats. The fish on display are enclosed in aquariums that use real seawater.
Besides fish and the collection of odd lobsters, the aquarium also has a large tank with harbour seals.
Godin said the aquarium is a popular attraction for the area and draws up to 40,000 visitors a year from all over Canada and tourists from around the world.

10-10-2008, 08:13 AM	#5
Jesse Joe Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 6,862	Re: Rare yellow lobster caught ! Rare lobster saved from pot Published Thursday October 9th, 2008 Fisherman donates Autumn to N.B. aquarium even though YouTube viewers say 'eat it' BY ALAN COCHRANE TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF An extremely rare yellow lobster caught in the Northumberland Strait near Richibucto Village last weekend will escape the cooking pot and find a new home at the Marine Centre Aquarium in Shippagan. This yellow lobster was caught in the Northumberland Strait near Richibucto Village by fishermen from Elsipogtog. Fisherman Danny Knockwood of the Elsipogtog First Nation said yesterday he has been in contact with the aquarium, which is operated by the provincial government as a tourist attraction and education centre. Curator Aurele Godin said he'd be happy to add Autumn to his collection of rare lobsters. "In captivity, the lobster could live for many years," Godin said yesterday. "And I've got many other coloured ones -- blue ones, yellow ones, orange and blacks. Every year fishermen come up with them. They call me and I go pick them up." Knockwood found the yellow lobster -- which he named Autumn -- while pulling his traps from the Northumberland Strait at the end of the season. Regular lobsters are normally a dark green colour with dark spots but Autumn has a distinct yellow colour on top and is nearly white on the bottom. A specialist from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans who examined photos and a video of the crustacean told the Times & Transcript that odd-coloured lobsters are rare but not uncommon. He said genetic defects sometimes cause a lobster's shell to develop a different colour. There have been reports over the years of blue, dark red, white and even yellow lobsters. The specialist said the different colour would have no bearing on its overall health or taste if it was cooked. Autumn is a female lobster and estimated to be nine or 10 years old. The DFO scientist pegged the odds of a yellow lobster as one in 10 million. Shortly after catching the lobster, Knockwood photographed it and put a video on the YouTube. As of yesterday, the video had been viewed over 500 times and there were seven comments from viewers, most of whom suggested that he simply 'eat it.' Knockwood said he didn't want to eat Autumn and would rather donate her to the aquarium where she can be seen. As of yesterday afternoon, Autumn was being kept in an underwater cage near Knockwood's home. The aquarium and museum focuses on New Brunswick's fishing industry with exhibits of gear, equipment and boats. The fish on display are enclosed in aquariums that use real seawater. Besides fish and the collection of odd lobsters, the aquarium also has a large tank with harbour seals. Godin said the aquarium is a popular attraction for the area and draws up to 40,000 visitors a year from all over Canada and tourists from around the world.