The slow start to the 2014 lobster season as witnessed in spring has continued into the heart of the U.S. vacation season when tourists on the East Coast are eager for lobster rolls and shore dinners.
“The shed has been slow coming on,” commented one Maine lobster industry observer, who notes that Maine boat operators were prepared for the season “to begin in earnest” headed into the last couple weeks of July. “The guys have basically said it has been an unusual year for them.”
The delay in the season has been weather driven, as water temperatures are slower to warm after a longer, colder winter.
That’s a contrast to last year, when the catch, which topped out at about 125 million pounds in Maine, was landed early. “For the lobster season, it’s best not to have it start too far before the tourists arrive,” she said.
But an executive with a Maine lobster distributor took an opposing view, saying it’s optimal to catch a good amount in June, July and August, rather than have the majority of the catch come closer to the fall and leave suppliers with a glut, which could drive down prices.
Right now the lack of soft shell production, with supplies about a month behind last year, has pushed prices higher because of increased demand, he said. Current boat prices are USD 3 (EUR 2.21) to USD 3.50 (EUR 2.58) a pound.
Meanwhile 3- to 4-ounce lobster tail prices were USD 14.75 (EUR 10.89) USD 15 (EUR 11.08), which has been holding steady for the past month.
Canada’s spring season wrapped up with a very good catch and moderate prices until the beginning of June and into July, according to the lobster distributor. “Prices came up quickly due to demand,” he said, rising by USD 1 (EUR 0.74) a pound in less than a week.
The strong landings in May in Canada meant that the live sector had to work through a lot of supply, says a Canadian industry source. But they were able to move it through the system, he said, “and the live sector roared back” around the Fourth of July.
On the processing side, landings were equally good, but the issue there was a shortage of labor in Canada to process the lobster. The Canadian industry relies on temporary foreign workers (TFW) to fill the employment gap, with some plants using more than 50 percent of TFW. However, new restrictions placed on the percentage of TFW allowed — 30 percent this year and down to 10 percent by 2016 — meant there were hundreds of vacancies at processing plants during the height of the season in June, which slowed or halted production.
