Rare Gold Lobster Saved, Donated to Rhode Island Aquarium

An exceptionally rare gold lobster, estimated to be a one-in-30-million genetic mutation, was saved from being cooked at the Nordic Lodge Restaurant in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Recognized for its unique yellowish-orange hue, the lobster, named Calvin, was donated to the Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown, where it has become a popular attraction, especially among visiting school children. The mutation that creates this gold coloration is much rarer than the well-known blue lobster mutation and results in a distinct shell color that can be mistaken for a slightly darker orange lobster. The restaurant’s bartender, a former volunteer at Biomes, personally delivered Calvin to the aquarium, continuing the establishment's tradition of donating rare lobsters instead of serving them. Calvin now shares a tank with a rare powder blue lobster, with plans to add an orange lobster from another aquarium in the future. This act of preservation highlights the value of rare marine creatures as educational and conservation assets rather than culinary fare.