Current Lobster prices (Biddeford, Ellsworth, Union: taxi, restaurants, stores)

[Maine Writer]

All of the lobstermen in our family are self-employed and don't receive unemployment.

[Huasho]

We were in Maine for our last trip there way back around 2002, in the Portland Area, we went all over to finnish in Mass 2 days before our flight from Boston to Miami, Fl.

All the way eating Lobsters on our trip...

Stayed at Fallmouth at the Cape and took a day trip to Martha's Vineyard, Jumped on Tour Bus and at the Gay Head Light we had some monster Lobster Rolls, I will never forget they were way under $10.00 each.

Back to Maine BTW just a couple of mls from Kennebunk Port by the Saco River into the Ocean we stoped at a place where the Lobsters were amazing ... Younger daughter about 17 yrs old then could not understand the cruelty for the crustaceans goinn from the salt water tanks to the boiling cauldron.

Now in this day and age she has NO problems eating them

Grow, Live and LEARN !! Even when in Florida the Imported Critters are expensive as Heck.

[Spanky25]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

All of the lobstermen in our family are self-employed and don't receive unemployment.

That’s great! I highly respect them!

[nm9stheham]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

All of the lobstermen in our family are self-employed and don't receive unemployment.

For employees of larger firms it might be a factor in those laid-off employees deciding to seek re-employment or not in their old work (of any type, actually). For any larger lobster business owner, it could be a factor if they have to pay more to lure someone back... so one cannot really know unless you run a lobstering business with employees.

As for anyone collecting or not collecting unemployment payments: If anyone is a sole proprietor in Maine, they are not required to pay into the Unemployment Insurance fund as are all other businesses. They can't usually collect unemployment benefits, so not collecting is just an outcome of not paying. (There has been an exception for the pandemic.)

[mainegrl2011]

Originally Posted by Spanky25

Do you think the “more money to stay home” on unemployment has anything to do with it?

I honestly do not think so. During the pandemic a year ago self-employed people could apply for and were allowed some type of financial assistance. It probably had a special name but I don't remember what it was called. It was different than traditional unemployment for workers who are laid off by companies/businesses covered by unemployment.

Believe it or not, there are people who prefer to work rather than draw unemployment.

[mainegrl2011]

Post showed up twice somehow

[Maine Writer]

Originally Posted by nm9stheham

For employees of larger firms it might be a factor in those laid-off employees deciding to seek re-employment or not in their old work (of any type, actually). For any larger lobster business owner, it could be a factor if they have to pay more to lure someone back... so one cannot really know unless you run a lobstering business with employees.

I don't run a lobstering business but I do know what my family members are doing. They're self-employed. They don't pay into the insurance so don't draw out. I was specific in saying my family.

[OutdoorLover]

In neighboring Ipswich, MA - live hardshell lobsters are running $10/lb for "halves" (1.50-1.75lb size), and $14/lb for "selects" (2.00-3.00lb size).

[nm9stheham]

Originally Posted by mainegrl2011

I honestly do not think so. During the pandemic a year ago self-employed people could apply for and were allowed some type of financial assistance. It probably had a special name but I don't remember what it was called. It was different than traditional unemployment for workers who are laid off by companies/businesses covered by unemployment.

Believe it or not, there are people who prefer to work rather than draw unemployment.

Thankfully, most people are that way. But not all. Do you want to hear about my B-I-L Rusty? LOL People's work ethic is not uniform. And, yes, about the one-time special program for self-employed in ME for the COVID situation.

FWIW.... I was listening to a business radio program yesterday, and the problem discussed was fast food restaurants in WA state being short on operating hours because some could not even get potential employees into the store for an interview, much less to make them an offer of $13.50 to $15 per hour. WA state has expanded unemployment benefits until this coming fall, and that is being blamed. Other states like WY and MT and ID are now terminating the augmented unemployment benefits to short-circuit this problem.

Whether this is the case in ME and for any lobster pricing factors, IDK; it seems possible. It may be more likely that former lobstering employees have migrated to other work, like house building, which is busy, and is presently more steady work.

[AustinB]

Originally Posted by nm9stheham

Thankfully, most people are that way. But not all. Do you want to hear about my B-I-L Rusty? LOL People's work ethic is not uniform. And, yes, about the one-time special program for self-employed in ME for the COVID situation.

FWIW.... I was listening to a business radio program yesterday, and the problem discussed was fast food restaurants in WA state being short on operating hours because some could not even get potential employees into the store for an interview, much less to make them an offer of $13.50 to $15 per hour. WA state has expanded unemployment benefits until this coming fall, and that is being blamed. Other states like WY and MT and ID are now terminating the augmented unemployment benefits to short-circuit this problem.

Whether this is the case in ME and for any lobster pricing factors, IDK; it seems possible. It may be more likely that former lobstering employees have migrated to other work, like house building, which is busy, and is presently more steady work.

The PPP program is most certainly not the case for high lobster prices. It was around last year, but has gone past. What is going on now is there has been poor catches. There have been fewer lobsters caught in the traps.