There are blue lobsters, spotted lobsters, bi-colour and rainbow ones. That’s in addition to the bizarre versions with extra appendages.
Billy Mole, marketing manager for Murray GM, says he certainly didn’t expect such a huge response to their Craziest Lobster Contest.
“Coming up on three weeks into the contest, we're close to 150 submissions,” he said,, noting at that time the lobster in the lead for the win had over 800 votes and they expected it to easily reach 1,000-plus votes.
The contest is being run through the dealership’s Facebook Page, with the winner being determined by the most likes.
The contest was created and organized by Mole and sales consultant Shawn Doucette.
“Fishermen are a huge part of our customer base and we wanted to do something special just for them,” said Mole.
He adds that Doucette is a former fisherman who has seen his share of crazy- looking lobsters.
The contest has generated some of the heaviest Facebook traffic Mole has ever seen, reaching over 100,000 people in a week with over 90,000 instances of engagement.
“The lobster submissions even got a bit overwhelming for me at times with them coming in all hours of the day and night,” said Mole.
He says he plans on continuing the tradition annually and hopes for an even bigger turnout next time.
“We've had people commenting on our lobsters from all of the country already and have submissions from all over the Maritimes.”
SCIENTIST EXPLAINS UNUSUAL LOBSTERS
Adam Cook, a research scientist in the population ecology division with Fisheries and Oceans Canada Bedford Institute of Oceanography, says there are quite a number of colour and appendage variants that show up in the lobster population, and that they are “really quite amazing.”
“The colour variations have been attributed to differences in the individuals’ genetic code such that certain pigments are expressed (or not expressed as the case may be) at different levels than are typical,” he said.
Some colour changes happen more frequently than others, but there have been a number of reports of the blue, red, orange, white and bi-colour over the years.
The extra or dual appendage question is a little different, but is also due to the genetic code of the animal.
During development, genes get turned on or off depending on the type of cells that are required to produce the characteristic body form. In some cases those cells do not get turned off at the correct time, or are turned on at multiple locations resulting in these claw abnormalities.
“In lobsters, where they can regenerate a claw or parts of a claw, these cells may get turned on several times over the individual's lifetime, which increases the chances of the dual or strange claw anomalies,” said Cook.
Meanwhile, a winner for the Craziest Lobster Contest will be selected Jan. 3.
To enter contest or view submissions
Visit Murray GM Yarmouth & Barrington Facebook Page
