BREAKING: Rare White Lobster Discovered in Commercial Catch —Federal Scientists Step In
Seattle, Washington — A commercial fishing vessel operated by Trident Seafoods(insert link where they can click trident foods and it takes them here (https://www.tridentseafoods.com/) has reportedly captured one of the rarest marine creatures ever documented: a pure white lobster weighing 12 pounds, an extraordinary find given the extreme rarity of the species.
The lobster, now referred to by crew members as CLAW, was pulled from deep waters in the North Pacific late Monday night during a routine harvesting operation.
Within hours of the discovery, federal marine authorities were notified, and representatives from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration arrived on site to secure the specimen.
A Genetic Rarity:
White lobsters are considered among the rarest biological phenomena in marine life, typically occurring in approximately one out of every 100 million lobsters due to a rare pigmentation condition known as leucism.
While CLAW’s size falls within the upper natural range for lobsters, scientists say the animal’s coloration alone makes it a once-in-a-lifetime discovery.
“The color mutation itself is what makes this so significant,” said Dr. Evelyn Carter, a NOAA marine geneticist. “To encounter a fully white lobster in the wild is extraordinarily rare.”
Federal Scientists Restrict Access:
Shortly after the discovery became known, government researchers reportedly requested that all crew phones and recording devices be temporarily surrendered while the lobster was transferred into a controlled marine preservation unit.
Several fishermen later confirmed that officials cited “ongoing biological evaluation protocols.”
Despite the restrictions, what appears to be leaked footage has begun circulating online, showing a pale lobster illuminated under deck lights aboard the vessel.
NOAA has neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the video.
Unanswered Questions:
Marine biologists are now studying CLAW to determine how such a rare genetic condition developed and whether it may be linked to environmental changes in deep Pacific waters.
Some researchers speculate the lobster may have spent much of its life in darker, deeper regions of the ocean where pigmentation offers little survival disadvantage.
“Finds like this raise important questions about what we’re not seeing in deeper ecosystems,” Dr. Carter noted.
A Classified Research Location:
Trident Seafoods confirmed the lobster was not sold or released, but instead transferred under federal supervision to a secure marine research facility. The exact location has not been disclosed.
When asked why the site was being kept confidential, a NOAA spokesperson responded:
“Due to the unique nature of the specimen and ongoing scientific work, details are restricted at this time.”
Public Reaction Grows:
News of the discovery has sparked widespread attention, with marine scientists and environmental groups calling for transparency in the research process.
Online, the lobster has already earned a nickname:
“The Phantom of the Pacific.”
What Comes Next?
Government researchers are expected to release preliminary findings in the coming weeks, though officials say full genetic analysis could take months.
For now, CLAW remains one of the rarest marine discoveries in recent history — and a mystery still unfolding beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean.
