Lobster Prices Plummet Amid Glut, Fisherman Docking Boats
Lobster prices are low, sparking many fisherman in Maine to dock their prices after coming to the consensus that prices were too low to go fishing.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Randy Johnson, manager of the Winter Harbor Lobster Co-op stated:
“I’ve never seen them tie up [their boats] as a group like this before.”
Johnson also noted that the 30 vessels in his co-op have remained at the docks for a week straight. he went on to say:
“I’m looking at all their boats as we speak. They all have a cut-off point [in price] where they can and can’t fish. It’s an impossible situation.”
These 30 boats are not the only ones to sit idle as lobster haulers up and down the coast of Maine have decided that pulling in lobster pots is a fruitless pursuit as prices at the dock have fallen as low as $1.25 per pound, which is about 70% below normal. The price, considered a near 30-year-low for the time of year, has been caused by a supply glut from an unseasonably warm winter throughout the Atlantic lobster fishery.
CNBC reports that Robin Alden, a longtime fisheries management expert, stated that, “The whole coast is in shock right now. The prices vary all over the place but I have heard as low as $1.50 [a pound].”
Since the announcement of historically low lobster prices, the Facebook pages of local groups, such as the Maine Lobstermen’s Association, have shown nothing but anger and frustration over the low prices, causing Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher to release a statement on Monday, in an attempt to defuse the situation. Keliher stated:
“We have heard that fishermen are seeking to impose a de facto shutdown of the fishery and coercing others into complying by threatening to cut off their gear. Any such actions will be met with targeted and swift enforcement.”
Keliher also stated in the release that they are looking for ways to combat the low lobster prices in the area.
Tags : fisheries may close, lobster fisheries, lobster glut, lobster prices, lobster prices drop, low lobster prices, maine lobster glut, maine lobster prices
Posted: July 16, 2012
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Jul 16, 2012
Good let the lobsters grow for a few years…
Jul 16, 2012
Purchasing price is still high $10.95 lb.
Jul 16, 2012
That would be Price Fixing, a federal offence. Hope they prosecute all of them. Let's bring in some Vietnamese fishermen from the Gulf Coast who will be quite happy with any price they get.
Jul 16, 2012
draggers sometimes only get paid 40cents per lb for squid welcome to the club lobstermen.
Jul 16, 2012
denny I do not know where you are purchasing your lobsters but I would find another place to purchase them as you are getting screwed!
Jul 16, 2012
denny I do not know where you are purchasing your lobsters but I would find another place to purchase them as you are getting screwed!
Jul 16, 2012
So they overfished during the winter, and now find that overfishing causes a surplus and lower proces? Whod-a-thunk it?
Jul 16, 2012
if it cost a buck fifty a pound to catch them and you get paid a buck twentyfive…..have you ever been to school? How did you do in math? Gonna make it up in volume? Most absurd post I have seen in a while.
Jul 16, 2012
THE PRICES OF LOBSTERS, CHICKEN LOBSTERS AND OVER AND LOBSTER MEAT ARE STILL HIGH AND DO NOT REFELECT FISHERMENS DOCK OFF LOADED PRICE.
THERE ARE NO QUALITY LOBSTERS IN VIETNAM OR SOUTH EAST ASIA OF THE TASTY USA, CANADA AND NORWEGIAN SPECIES.
Jul 16, 2012
hahahahahahaahhaaa………….no lobster for you come back one year!
Jul 16, 2012
The lower price hasn't shown up here in Fla. They are still $13.99 lb at the local grocery store and higher at the fish market!
Jul 16, 2012
The lower price hasn't shown up here in Fla. They are still $13.99 lb at the local grocery store and higher at the fish market!
Jul 16, 2012
The lower price hasn't shown up here in Fla. They are still $13.99 lb at the local grocery store and higher at the fish market!
Jul 16, 2012
You are such a DICK HEAD. Lets find out, how you make a living, and lower the income. Now lets see how you talk, Piss Ant
Jul 16, 2012
Nor here in Texas. seen a sale a couple weeks ago at 8.99 but normal price here is also 13.99
Jul 16, 2012
Prices are very low. I doubt we in Michigan will be able to indulge. $20.00 lb. in Michigan
Jul 16, 2012
Actually technically it is not price fixing on behalf of the fisherman. Look up the market variables including a collapse in Canadian bank lending to fisheries and you'll see that market variables outside of supply/demand are leading fisherman to dock, which they have all the right to do.
Jul 16, 2012
Can we turn them into Bio-Fuel?
Jul 16, 2012
Then the market should charge 5 bucks a pound instead of 7 bucks for a 4 oz tail. The economy is in a slump, join in the fun!
Jul 16, 2012
where can we get lobsters for cheap, then. the only person who gives me a great deal on lobster is a friend who catches them in the middle of the night. and its not that often, he can only get 6 a night limit and a long line of other people waiting. btw im in California
Jul 16, 2012
One of the best parts of the recession next to low green fees at great courses. Lobster tails that were in the 30 to almost 40 dollar a pound range have been at about 20 bucks for the last 2-3 years. Still high but look at King Crab legs, 25 bucks a pound at stores here in the SE. It seems to be a case of the middle man who does NONE of the work but makes a killing! Proof? I know a Cherry grower who gets between 9 an 17 cent a pound for the cherries that never go below 2 bucks a pound and are usually around $3. The grower/fisherman/ herder gets screwed every time. I would sacrifice beef seafood whatever if they went on strike. Let's see the greedy middleman make a living with nothing to sell!
Jul 16, 2012
$1.25 a pound? That's almost as cheap as bottled water at the Quickie-Mart!
Jul 16, 2012
We feel your pain… We own a shrimp boat down here in the gulf $1.05 a pound of you're lucky… You just can't do it with the coast of Diseal:( I was at a restaurant the other night, market price for a lobster in FLorida was $32.00! Who exactly is making the money here?
Jul 16, 2012
where can we get lobsters for cheap, then. the only person who gives me a great deal on lobster is a friend who catches them in the middle of the night. and its not that often, he can only get 7 a night limit and a long line of other people waiting. btw im in California
Jul 16, 2012
Looks like Mr. Embleton has worked too long for the government.
Jul 16, 2012
Welcome to the world of suppyl and demand. I didn't hear them complaining when they were cashing in the big bucks! Deal with it.
Jul 16, 2012
5lbs for only $10 sounds really good to me!
Jul 16, 2012
5lbs for only $10 sounds really good to me!
Jul 17, 2012
Is there anyplace online to order them at a decent price?
Jul 17, 2012
3.99 a pound Stews this week in Norwalk, CT.
Jul 17, 2012
Couldn't the Maine lobstermen find a CA dealer who would help them ship for a better price and it could be a win-win? I'm a New Englander living on the West Coast and sick of being ripped off for good ECoast seafood. It's 2012, I'm sure there is a way where it could work out for all.
Jul 17, 2012
Better idea. Get these lobster fisherman together and form a co-op. Buy their own processing/shipping equipment. They get all the profit and middleman diaappears. Prices to the consume will also be down. Everyone wins except the guys that have been cheating the rest of the country out of money.
Jul 17, 2012
coke and grass is down too, but then so is lawn care
Jul 17, 2012
Are you talking to me high school donni? Cuz I am a cpa, have been for twice as long as you have been alive high schooler. You will probably have to ask your parents what a cpa is. Talk about piss ant, there would be your stupid little picture in the dictionary as an prime example. gfy
Jul 17, 2012
Hey Freeze em and ship them down to GA We will give ya a lot more than these prices. We would love a break from our high prices.
Jul 17, 2012
HELL PEOPLE CAN BARELY AFFORD A 59¢ TACO FRUM TACO BELL….WHO CAN EAT LOBSTER WHEN THEY ARE FACING EVICTION..
Jul 17, 2012
As the price of fuel keeps going up it will hurt enen more Go you energy traders. Gasoline here up $.18 in seven days.
Jul 17, 2012
tell me about it. I put in a bid to the county for some work and the guy was sincerely shocked how low my bid was and I still got outbid!