Rare white lobster caught off Chebeague Island

The white lobster probably has a genetic condition called Leucism, which is a partial loss of pigment, according to a post on the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association Facebook page. That's why hints of blue are visible on the shell and in its eyes. The lobster was caught by Alex Todd of Cheabeague Island late in August. Photo courtesy of Alex Todd

A rare white lobster that was caught off Chebeague Island last week is getting attention on social media.

The Maine Coast Fisherman’s Association, a Brunswick-based nonprofit that supports and advocates for Maine’s community based fishermen, posted a contributed photograph and a short story about the catch on its Facebook page. The photograph shows the lobster resting on a lobster trap next to a more common reddish brown lobster.

Since then, the photograph, which was taken by 48-year-old lobsterman Alex Todd of Chebeague Island, has been shared more than 2,300 times on Facebook and received more than 300 comments. Todd said he was fishing in his boat, the Jacob and Joshua, when he hauled in the white lobster off the northeast end of Chebeague Island on Aug. 24.

“It was almost transparent, but you couldn’t see inside,” Todd said Thursday. Todd said he has been lobstering for years, getting his license when he was 6 years old.

Read more: http://www.pressherald.com/2017/08/31/rare-white-lobster-caught-off-chebeague-island/