The one‑in‑30‑million crustacean showed up in a routine seafood shipment, stunning staff and earning a fast‑track ride to a local aquarium.
Workers at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace in Warwick, Rhode Island, opened their latest seafood delivery and froze—literally. Nestled among ordinary brown lobsters was a brilliant golden specimen, gleaming like a dropped coin on the ocean floor. The store’s seafood manager knew right away this oddball shouldn’t end up on someone’s plate.
How one grocery store employee recognized an ultra‑rare golden lobster on delivery
According to store spokesperson Susan Budlong, the manager “knew immediately” the lobster’s fate had to change. Golden pigmentation results from a genetic mutation that appears roughly once in every 30 million lobsters. Rather than selling the animal, the grocery team phoned its Massachusetts seafood supplier, which quickly connected them with the Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown.
So, just how rare is this catch? Rarer than winning many state lotteries, experts say. Only a handful of similarly colored lobsters are documented nationwide each year, and most are whisked away to educational displays rather than sauté pans. Before sending the lobster off, staff followed a simple playbook:
- Contacted the supplier for next‑step guidance
- Coordinated with Biomes Marine Biology Center for placement
- Donated the lobster instead of placing it in retail tanks
Not bad for a Tuesday morning, right?
Why marine biologists say golden lobsters deserve a quick ticket to aquariums
Biomes gladly accepted the newest resident, joining its existing lineup of oddball crustaceans that already includes a powder‑blue lobster and “Lorenzo,” another golden beauty donated in May. Who gets to see the shimmering crustacean now? Anyone visiting the North Kingstown aquarium once quarantine ends.
Above all, scientists value these anomalies for public outreach. “When guests spot a golden lobster, it sparks instant questions about genetics and ocean diversity,” one marine educator noted during a previous donation.
| Fast fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Genetic odds | 1 in 30 million |
| First spotted by | Seafood manager at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, Warwick |
| Current home | Biomes Marine Biology Center, North Kingstown |
| Other colorful residents | Powder‑blue lobster and earlier golden lobster “Lorenzo” |
The discovery also highlights the important judgment calls seafood professionals make daily. By pausing sales and phoning experts, Dave’s not only preserved a scientific marvel but also earned a feel‑good moment for customers tracking the story on local news.
Golden lobsters are incredibly scarce, but when they surface, quick collaboration between retailers, suppliers, and aquariums ensures these sparkling ambassadors educate rather than adorn dinner plates. Planning a summer road trip? Swing by Biomes and meet Rhode Island’s newest gold‑armored celebrity—you may never see another like it.