ScubaSarus
Guest
This is about as bad as it gets IMO and correlates with the fact I see less and less lobsters over the last 8 years while diving.
by News Channel 8's Kent Pierce
Posted Aug. 11, 2008
12:15 PM
Clinton (WTNH) -- Fewer lobsters and high fuel prices are making it difficult for lobstermen in Connecticut to make a profit.
At Lobster Landing in Clinton, they have whole local lobsters starting at $10 a pound. That's not cheap, but not bad, especially considering how lobstermen are struggling.
"The lobster business in Connecticut has been struggling since the die-off of 1999, but in particular this year we are struggling very, very much," said lobsterman, Enea Bacci.
They're struggling so much, lobster boats didn't even go out today. The high price of fuel is one reason and bait is also expensive. But the biggest problem is - the lobsters are just not there.
"The catch of lobster dropped about 70% compared to last year, and therefore we have to keep the price up in order to operate our boats," said Bacci.
So while Maine is overflowing with claws and tails, Connecticut lobstermen can't even fill a boat and nobody know why. But it means prices are not dropping here at the docks so they're not dropping at restaurants, either.
"We haven't seen that at all. I definitely think that as far as local lobsters go, that supply has not come back," said Jim Schreck from Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale.
In fact, when it comes to the cost of a lobster dinner at your favorite restaurant, it's amazing it doesn't cost more because of the high energy prices.
"There's really kind of a structural charge in terms of what our energy costs are - what it costs to air condition the place, run the fryolaters, the gas all that. All those costs have really changed," Schreck said.
by News Channel 8's Kent Pierce
Posted Aug. 11, 2008
12:15 PM
Clinton (WTNH) -- Fewer lobsters and high fuel prices are making it difficult for lobstermen in Connecticut to make a profit.
At Lobster Landing in Clinton, they have whole local lobsters starting at $10 a pound. That's not cheap, but not bad, especially considering how lobstermen are struggling.
"The lobster business in Connecticut has been struggling since the die-off of 1999, but in particular this year we are struggling very, very much," said lobsterman, Enea Bacci.
They're struggling so much, lobster boats didn't even go out today. The high price of fuel is one reason and bait is also expensive. But the biggest problem is - the lobsters are just not there.
"The catch of lobster dropped about 70% compared to last year, and therefore we have to keep the price up in order to operate our boats," said Bacci.
So while Maine is overflowing with claws and tails, Connecticut lobstermen can't even fill a boat and nobody know why. But it means prices are not dropping here at the docks so they're not dropping at restaurants, either.
"We haven't seen that at all. I definitely think that as far as local lobsters go, that supply has not come back," said Jim Schreck from Lenny & Joe's Fish Tale.
In fact, when it comes to the cost of a lobster dinner at your favorite restaurant, it's amazing it doesn't cost more because of the high energy prices.
"There's really kind of a structural charge in terms of what our energy costs are - what it costs to air condition the place, run the fryolaters, the gas all that. All those costs have really changed," Schreck said.
