Over the past decade i have personally seen the lobstering industry go through many economical changes. My father who is a lobsterman has explained to me how he getting roughly the same price per pound he got ten years ago today. The problem is that the catch hasn't been as good and the prices of maintenance have increased dramatically. Especially gas. Its hard to make much profit anymore.
How does the price of everything that goes into running a lobster business fluctuate?
The price of fuel plays a big role in this. Maintaining the boat and its engine can also be expensive. With the equipment and the gear it can get very pricey. Depending on your catch and what your getting for it can really determine how the lobstering season has been.
What is the price of Lobster?
Ken Weeks Lobsterman " We get paid per pound, and it varies with quality, time of year, and the market conditions."
In Maine and in most areas in New England most lobsterman got $2.50 to $3.00 a pound. When the lobster pound buys it for that much they turn around and sell it to the people for sometimes $17 per pound.
How does the selling of lobsters work?
The lobsterman go out and catch lobsters using baited traps. They bring their catch to either lobster pounds or restaurants or any store that wants to buy. From their the lobsters are retailed to the consumers for a higher price. This is why people think lobsterman make so much but in reality they don't make nearly as much as the retailers do selling them.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/market-forces-make-everyone-feel-the-pinch_2012-08-12.html
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=CC&Date=20110114&Category=MEDIA01&ArtNo=114009998&Ref=PH&Presentation=desktop
It's crazy how little your dad sells the lobster for to the restaurants or seafood shops and they go around and sell it for 4 or 5 times the price that he sold it for. He gets absolutely screwed.
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