CBC | Top Stories News
· collected 2026-08-04 · by Giuliana Grillo de Lambarri
Robert Wagner, a lobster fisherman from Nova Scotia, caught a one-in-50-million genetic mutation lobster named Oscar while fishing near Blue Rocks on his boat. The two-coloured lobster, which is blue on one side and orange on the other, was taken in by Dalhousie University's Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity after Wagner's daughter suggested they contact the centre. According to Nadia Stewart, visitor experience facilitator at the centre, Oscar's mutation occurs extremely rarely, with albino lobsters being even rarer at one-in-100 million. The centre is currently giving Oscar time off to recover from moulting, which should take 14 to 30 days for his new shell to harden.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
One in 50 million: Oscar the two-coloured lobster lands in N.S. aquarium
Oscar's blue-orange colours are the result of a genetic mutation
asserted
colours → land → mutation
In his 40 years as a lobster fisherman, Robert Wagner had never seen a critter like it: a half-blue, half-orange lobster, split down the middle from head to tail.
asserted
Wagner → see → tail
"I said, 'Wow! I've never seen that like that in my life,'" said Wagner.
asserted
Wagner → say → life
The lobster was in the second-last trap hauled aboard one day a few months ago from waters near Blue Rocks, on Nova Scotia's South Shore.
asserted
lobster → haul → Shore
Wagner decided to name him Oscar, because he felt as lucky as any Academy Award-winning movie star.
asserted
he → decide → star
And like the shiny golden statues, he wanted Oscar to be seen by others.
asserted
Oscar → want → others
His daughter suggested contacting Dalhousie University to see if they'd be interested in taking Oscar.
uncertain
they → suggest → Oscar
Nadia Stewart, visitor experience facilitator for Dalhousie's Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, said the offer was potentially life-saving.
asserted
offer → say → Biodiversity
"We're so happy that they think of us when they do find a cool lobster cause in the wild they often get predated upon very quickly just because of their standout colours," she said.
asserted
she → think → colours
Stewart said Oscar's mutation occurs in about one out of every 50 million lobster.
asserted
mutation → say → lobster
"When two of these fertilized unlaid eggs come in contact with each other, it actually causes one to absorb the other, so this creates Oscar, our lobster with two different sets of ... genetic information," she said.
asserted
she → fertilize → information
The only thing more rare than Oscar's colours is an albino lobster, which is found in about one out of 100 million lobster, said Stewart.
asserted
Stewart → find → lobster
Wagner and his family took care of Oscar for a month before he was taken to his new home.
asserted
he → take → home
Every second day, Wagner would feed it.
asserted
Wagner → feed → it
A special licence was needed to transport Oscar to Halifax, said Wagner.
asserted
Wagner → need → Halifax
Stewart said Oscar has acclimated to his new home, but he surprised staff when he shed his shell a few days ago.
asserted
he → say → shell
She said the centre decided to put the old blue-orange shell on display and give him time off, so he can recover from moulting.
asserted
he → say → moulting
She said he'll be back on display once his new shell hardens up, which should take about 14 to 30 days.
asserted
which → say → days
Wagner is happy with the decision to donate Oscar.
asserted
Wagner → donate → Oscar
"We're just grateful that it got in the right hands and hope [Oscar] has a good life," he said.
asserted
he → get → life
One in 50 million: Oscar the two-coloured lobster lands in N.S. aquarium
Oscar's blue-orange colours are the result of a genetic mutation
asserted
colours → land → mutation
In his 40 years as a lobster fisherman, Robert Wagner had never seen a critter like it: a half-blue, half-orange lobster, split down the middle from head to tail.
asserted
Wagner → see → tail
"I said, 'Wow! I've never seen that like that in my life,'" said Wagner.
asserted
Wagner → say → life
The lobster was in the second-last trap hauled aboard one day a few months ago from waters near Blue Rocks, on Nova Scotia's South Shore.
asserted
lobster → haul → Shore
Wagner decided to name him Oscar, because he felt as lucky as any Academy Award-winning movie star.
asserted
he → decide → star
And like the shiny golden statues, he wanted Oscar to be seen by others.
asserted
Oscar → want → others
His daughter suggested contacting Dalhousie University to see if they'd be interested in taking Oscar.
uncertain
they → suggest → Oscar
Nadia Stewart, visitor experience facilitator for Dalhousie's Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity, said the offer was potentially life-saving.
asserted
offer → say → Biodiversity
"We're so happy that they think of us when they do find a cool lobster cause in the wild they often get predated upon very quickly just because of their standout colours," she said.
asserted
she → think → colours
Stewart said Oscar's mutation occurs in about one out of every 50 million lobster.
asserted
mutation → say → lobster
"When two of these fertilized unlaid eggs come in contact with each other, it actually causes one to absorb the other, so this creates Oscar, our lobster with two different sets of ... genetic information," she said.
asserted
she → fertilize → information
The only thing more rare than Oscar's colours is an albino lobster, which is found in about one out of 100 million lobster, said Stewart.
asserted
Stewart → find → lobster
Wagner and his family took care of Oscar for a month before he was taken to his new home.
asserted
he → take → home
Every second day, Wagner would feed it.
asserted
Wagner → feed → it
A special licence was needed to transport Oscar to Halifax, said Wagner.
asserted
Wagner → need → Halifax
Stewart said Oscar has acclimated to his new home, but he surprised staff when he shed his shell a few days ago.
asserted
he → say → shell
She said the centre decided to put the old blue-orange shell on display and give him time off, so he can recover from moulting.
asserted
he → say → moulting
She said he'll be back on display once his new shell hardens up, which should take about 14 to 30 days.
asserted
which → say → days
Wagner is happy with the decision to donate Oscar.
asserted
Wagner → donate → Oscar
"We're just grateful that it got in the right hands and hope [Oscar] has a good life," he said.
asserted
he → get → life
