Rare blue lobster caught on the coast of Portland, Maine

© James LaPlante

A blue lobster caught in Portland

Meghan LaPlante, 14 was lobster fishing with her father Jay when they discovered "Skyler', who is an extremely unlikely colour for a crustacean

An almost unique sea creature made landfall earlier this week - a blue lobster.

Jay LaPlante and his 14-year-old daughter Meghan, were out at sea hauling traps off the coast, near Portland, Maine, when they unloaded a pot containing the spectacular two-pound azure lobster.

Meghan quickly christened the crustacean Skyler, presumably as she is the same shade as the sky.

© James LaPlante

Sky's the limit: Meghan LaPlante christened the crustacean Skyler

Oceanographers estimate that around one in two million lobsters are this alluring shade of blue, the unusual colour caused by a genetic defect which causes the shell-fish to over-produce a certain protein.

Due to his almost unique appearance, Skyler has avoided the dinner plate and has been given to the Maine State aquarium in West Boothbay Harbor.

There he will join another three blue lobsters and an orange one.