Orange lobsters found in Long Island markets have been rescued, released, nonprofit says

Three more rare orange lobsters were spared the stove top after they were spotted in market tanks throughout Long Island.

The orange lobsters — dubbed Tangerine, Clementine and Navel — were discovered in shipments of standard brown lobsters sent to Northport Fish and Lobster and to Stop & Shop stores in Southampton and East Setauket, according to John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and executive director of Humane Long Island, an animal protection nonprofit that coordinated the crustacean rescues.

“We were very glad to be able to rescue them and release them into the same spot in Long Island Sound,” Di Leonardo said. “We’re hoping that they maybe meet up and say ‘hello’ before going on their way.”

Last month, Newsday reported that Simon, another orange lobster — a 1-in-30-million find caused by a genetic mutation — was discovered in a shipment at Mastic Seafood and sent to the Sport Fishing Education Center, run by the Cornell Cooperative Extension to teach children about marine life and conservation.

“If you got something that rare, let people see it,” said Tom Fazio, a longtime chef at Northport Fish and Lobster. “It would be a shame to just sell it to somebody and have them throw it in a pot.”

Stop & Shop management at both locations agreed to donate the two rare lobsters in their company to Humane Long Island, the nonprofit said, as did the crew at Northport Fish and Lobster, a seafood market and restaurant. Fazio said he was thankful the nonprofit took Tangerine off his hands, as he knew he “can’t keep it in the tank forever.”

“It was fun to show it to people,” Fazio recalled. “It stood out pretty well in the tank … We took it out and let little kids look at it.”