Price of Maine lobsters may be the highest ever

[Sam]

Lobster prices in Maine have soared to apparent record highs, leaving lovers of the state's signature seafood reeling from sticker shock. Even with retail prices hovering around $15 a pound, some dealers said supplies of lobster were close to nonexistent. Harsh winter weather, abnormally cold water temperatures and the timing of fishing seasons are blamed for the shortage." Everything that can go wrong has gone wrong," said Peter McAleney, owner of New Meadows Lobster, which had exhausted its supply Monday. Bob Bayer of the Lobster Institute said this past winter's weather, especially the wind, made it tough for lobstermen to get out on the water. At the same time, the colder ocean water made lobsters less hungry and thus less likely to head into a trap in search of food.

Bayer also pointed to reduced stocks in tidal lobster pounds, which contain lobsters caught in the fall for sale over the winter. The pounds have done poorly in recent years, prompting dealers to keep fewer lobsters there, he said.At DiMillo's Floating Restaurant along the Portland waterfront, owner Steve DiMillo said he's been paying wholesale prices of $45 a pound for lobster meat and $11.50 a pound for whole lobsters. "It's the highest I've ever seen," said DiMillo, noting that the price " has been ramping up for the past few weeks, and we've been buying less." He added a 25 percent surcharge to all lobster dishes, which helped curb customer demand.

McAleney said lobsters are selling for about $18 a pound in New York, but "even with the high prices, they're not catching much, so it doesn't even pay for the fuel" to head out. Those in the industry agree that relief should be coming soon. With improving weather, the water will begin to warm and the lobsters will make their way toward the traps. Also, the Canadian lobster season will soon begin. Canadian waters are divided into about 40 districts with different opening and closing dates, Bayer said, but most will open by the end of the month. McAleney predicted that a rush of supply will help push the price down.

"When it falls, it's going to fall hard," he said.