Why is Lobster so Cheap? (Greenville, Steuben: sale, how much, home)

[Maineah]

I have heard a number of reasons to explain the record low price of lobster this summer. Perhaps there is a base reason I have not heard of to explain the present glut. According to the inflation calculator the present price of around $3.00 a pound is the equivalent of $.75 cents a pound in 1975 dollars. This was the low average price that I remember back in high school 34 years ago!!! These are extremely low prices folks!
Some of the reasons for the low prices I have heard include:

There are simply alot of lobsters around this year! I have heard people with 5 trap licenses are getting 12 keepers per haul....That is unheard of! I used to get an average of eight keepers with the 25 traps I used to haul. There has been some talk that the last few summers have been cooler making the ocean cooler overall which seems to be good for lobster reproduction.

The Canadian market has dried up.
That was the excuse last fall when the price dropped. Is this still the case?

There are just too many fishermen.
The State regulates the number of commercial lobstermen very closely. The apprentice program has made it more difficult to get into the business. No longer can someone just buy a boat, buy some traps,buy some bait, and call yourself a lobsterman/lobsterwoman?.

Tourist traffic is way down so consumption is down.
I don't know how much this affects the overall industry though I suppose everything adds up.

What have you heard out there??
Are you eating your share???

[flycessna]

I can understand prices being driven down but I really find it hard to comprehend how they are staying so low??

I am realy not in the loop but I think it could be a combination of all the above...However with Lobster's running as cheap as a hamburger then I guess the economy wouldn't explain it all.

My in laws had a lobster bake the other day and my father in law bought his lobster of the boat from a friend for $2.75 a pound... 25cents more then what the guy gets selling ?wholesale?

I dont see how anyone can make a living at these prices which brings me to my next question or thought.... just like my father in laws friend... are there a lot of these part time lobstermen who have full time jobs aside and are doing it for maybe a little extra money, to get some lobsters for them selves and friends, and for the joy of being out there... if so i could see why could see then how prices might stay down... that really hurts the the guys that trying to make a living out of it.

$2.50... geeze.. how many lobsters a day would you need just to take home a 100 bucks

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by flycessna

I can understand prices being driven down but I really find it hard to comprehend how they are staying so low??

I am realy not in the loop but I think it could be a combination of all the above...However with Lobster's running as cheap as a hamburger then I guess the economy wouldn't explain it all.

My in laws had a lobster bake the other day and my father in law bought his lobster of the boat from a friend for $2.75 a pound... 25cents more then what the guy gets selling ?wholesale?

I dont see how anyone can make a living at these prices which brings me to my next question or thought.... just like my father in laws friend... are there a lot of these part time lobstermen who have full time jobs aside and are doing it for maybe a little extra money, to get some lobsters for them selves and friends, and for the joy of being out there... if so i could see why could see then how prices might stay down... that really hurts the the guys that trying to make a living out of it.

$2.50... geeze.. how many lobsters a day would you need just to take home a 100 bucks

Part time guys who hold commercial licenses still have to have a minimum number of traps...Mermaid will know the minimum. If they are selling them using a 5 trap license it's illegal. They are supposed to be for personal consumption only. I know 5 trap guys are selling them as my buddy bought some from a guy last week. He said he was catching far more than he could use this year so perhaps the recreational lobsterman are having a little bit of an affect. They are supposed to keep only what they can use but who is going to track them down??

[dmyankee]

Crappy economy and rain this years has depressed the tourist traffic immensely. $4.99 a pound up here, inland. None of the businesses, including the seafood restaurant next door, are having a banner season. I think that explains a lot!

A friend is bringing up a bushel of quahogs and a mess of Ipswich steamers this weekend. I might even get some lobster to go with the clam boil... stuffed quahogs, little necks, chorico, chicken, sweet potato and corn.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

Crappy economy and rain this years has depressed the tourist traffic immensely. $4.99 a pound up here, inland. None of the businesses, including the seafood restaurant next door, are having a banner season. I think that explains a lot!

A friend is bringing up a bushel of quahogs and a mess of Ipswich steamers this weekend. I might even get some lobster to go with the clam boil... stuffed quahogs, little necks, chorico, chicken, sweet potato and corn.

Well I'll have you know that some of our friends are headed to Greenville this weekend. They don't care what the weather is. My wife and I have decided to head up that way for a few days the 3rd week of August. It ain't much but every little bit helps!

[DONNIEANDDONNA417]

i know here in atlanta they were selling just the tails for 12.99 per tail...i went to the store today and they were on sale for 4.99 per tail

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by DONNIEANDDONNA417

i know here in atlanta they were selling just the tails for 12.99 per tail...i went to the store today and they were on sale for 4.99 per tail

So you picked up how many pounds???

[CoastalMaine]

On Cape Cod they're selling for $11.99 a pound. I got a deal ONE time at Stop and Shop for $6.99 a pound.

I saw a guy in Steuben on Pigeon Hill Road a few days ago selling them for $3.25 a pound.

Up the top of the hill here at Papa J's, they have lobster dinners for anywhere from $24.99 to $42.00; depending on the size lobstah you pick.

[lrfox]

I picked some up in New Bedford MA for about $3.50/lb with some nice sea scallops for $7.99/lb. grocery stores are charging (and getting more).

It's dirt cheap here too, though Boston is obviously marked up in spots.

[Easybreezy]

Just wait. I will be in Maine in one week and will probably personally eat enough lobsters to raise the price.