A Few Days Left to Name the Lobsters
If you haven’t been one of the hundreds of visitors to the Maria Mitchell Association (MMA) Aquarium to name the two blue lobsters that have been residents at the Aquarium this summer, there’s still time to submit your entry. This Saturday, September 4 is the contest deadline; the winning names will be announced on Monday, September 6. Entry forms are available at the Aquarium at 28 Washington Street from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One of the blue lobsters is on loan to the Aquarium, the other is a local crustacean, found in the waters off Tuckernuck by the Souza family. “The Souzas drove up in their truck very excited [at what they had found],” explained Aquarium Director Cheryl Beaton. “Who would have thought that we’d actually have someone here on Nantucket find a blue lobster?” Red lobsters are common, but their blue brothers and sisters are a rarity. Beaton said, “It’s a genetic defect like albinism that makes them blue, so they are rare to find.”
The Aquarium interns get to choose the winning names from the many entries. According to Beaton, they often select names that are relevant to Nantucket or to the species. And she reports that they have had some very good entries so far this season. Last season the subject of the naming contest was a monkfish that was dubbed Felonius Monk, in 2008 it was an octopus and the summer before that a group of seahorses.
While you’re at the Aquarium, check out the diverse collection of sea animals—skates, eels, jellyfish, sharks, hermit crabs, seahorses and even a blue lobster—in tanks and touch pools. The Aquarium also offers field trips and walks, call the Aquarium at 508-228-5387.
The Maria Mitchell Aquarium closes for the season on Saturday, September 4. The blue lobsters will be turned over to another facility for the winter and, hopefully, rejoin the collection next season.
