Domestic Gulf 16’s & 21’s Shell on Shrimp Market Moves Sharply Lower
Supply has increased as shrimp boats are hauling in larger catches, but demand is waning with American consumers depleting their Covid savings. This dynamic brings good news for our customers but spells trouble for shrimpers. Prices for 16/20 shell-on shrimp have dropped by 15% in the past 30 days, and the 21s have experienced a […]
Local Wild Chesapeake Bay Oyster Season Just Around the Corner
Oystermen in the Chesapeake Bay are gearing up for the extensive public oyster season, spanning from October 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. Hand tongers, oyster divers, and patent tongers will commence oystering on October 1, while skipjacks and power dredgers begin on November 1. Numerous oystermen consistently reached their daily “limit” (12 bushels per […]
September Market Update – North Atlantic Lobster
Supply Dynamics: Canada- Zone Managed Fishery Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 in Canada began in mid-August, with a strong start but declining volumes by early September. This season ends in early October. While LFA 25 landed between 20-24 million lbs., the May and June spring fishery exceeded 100 million lbs. Upcoming seasons include mid-October in […]
Pasteurized Crab Meat Prices Holding Firm for Now
Every primary importer of pasteurized crab meat in the United States has been eagerly awaiting this moment. The market is no longer saturated with inexpensive fresh Venezuelan crab meat, and pasteurized dealers have been counting on offloading much of their overpriced inventory while Venezuela is in conservation mode. Admittedly, not much crab meat is being […]
Domestic Picking Houses Going “Full Bore”
The phones are ringing off the hook at all the crab meat-picking houses from Maryland through the Carolinas and into the Gulf of Mexico. The full effect of the Venezuelan closure is being felt this week. Domestic fresh crab meat prices, in general, are currently slightly less than those of comparable pasteurized picks. There’s a […]
Why My All-Jumbo Lump Crabcake is Expensive and Solutions to Lower Costs
In mid-July, a 4-ounce all-fresh jumbo lump crab meat (Venz) cost $4.12 to serve in seafood restaurants. Today, that cost has surged to $7.50 (calculated as $29.95 divided by 16, multiplied by 4 = $7.50). As we approach the end of the season, the Venz crab meat supply diminishes, causing a pasteurized Indonesian jumbo lump […]
Carolina Fresh Shrimp Coming Soon
The “summer shrimp” have arrived in the Pamlico Sound behind the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The first species of shrimp to arrive are brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus aztecus. The white shrimp, Litopenaeus setiferus, will arrive later this fall. Boats leave on Sunday at sundown and shrimp for a day or two before returning back. These […]
Mexican & U.S. Domestic Picking Houses Ramping Up Production
Venezuelan crab meat production is dwindling, and the phones are ringing off the hook at picking houses across Maryland, Virginia, Carolina, and Louisiana. With the hard crab market being described by local buyers as “horrible,” local picking houses are able to purchase high-quality crabs normally bound for restaurants that would steam and sell them by […]
Two Weeks Left of Venezuelan Fresh Crabmeat Availability
One thing you quickly learn about Venezuelan fresh HPP crab meat is that when prices start to move, in one direction or another, they move at blinding speed. Just two weeks ago, we were selling fresh jumbo lump for $16.95/lb, and today we are at $30/lb. The catch in Lake Maracaibo is way down. Two […]
Live Soft Crabs Have Been Consistently Available Lately
We have had a nice little run of live whales and live jumbo soft crabs over the last couple of weeks. The lack of soft crabs on the frozen market is keeping prices elevated. However, demand is strong, most likely because they were never really available for any length of time so far this summer. […]
