While Florida’s spiny lobster supplies are about the same as last season, price are higher, according to the state’s suppliers and distributors.
The spiny lobster harvest, which runs from 6 August through the end of March, represents Florida’s third-highest grossing seafood product in sales, behind shrimp and stone crabs. Last season, the dockside value was USD 13.2 million, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Distributors say the price may be higher this season due to increased demand from overseas buyers, particularly China. Dock prices range from USD 5.50 to USD 6.75 a pound, while wholesale prices are averaging USD 6.50 to USD 8 per pound.
“The supply is good this year, but the prices have gone up between 75 cents and USD 1.50 a pound,” said a Florida retail buyer.
Although the volume of U.S. spiny lobster exports was down significantly in 2009, exports in 2010 should far surpass those levels. Exports dropped from approximately 1.2 million pounds in 2008 to 382,457 pounds in 2009, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. As of July, Florida had exported 193,629 pounds of spiny lobster, with the largest share (52,078 pounds) going to China and Hong Kong.
Still, buyers and distributors are surprised at the increased demand, particularly since Maine lobster is plentiful this season.
“The price is up significantly. Last year, it was in the USD 5 range. The economy was such that there was downward pressure on it,” said a Florida distributor.
Another Florida distributor said spiny lobster sales are steady, but demand has not picked up.
“Supply is about the same, but there is not an increase in demand. Demand will probably increase as the holidays come up,” said the distributor.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said such strong supply and demand is good news for Florida’s seafood industry, which has experienced a sales slump since the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
“The opening of Florida’s commercial spiny lobster harvest is always a much anticipated event, and this year’s [harvest] is especially meaningful,” said Bronson.
