Lobster prices are tumbling, and shippers in the U.S. and Canada fear the worst could be yet to come as the seafood industry deals with a worldwide slowdown in imports because of the spread of the new virus.
In this Friday, March 13, 2020 photo, Issac Nicoll packs lobsters for shipment at the Lobster Company in Kennebunkport, Maine. The worldwide markets for live lobsters have been disrupted by the coronavirus, and members of the industry are concerned it could worsen if the outbreak lingers into the summer. China is one of the biggest importers of lobster in the world, and it isn't taking any of the shellfish right now as it seems to control the spread of the virus.
Late winter and early spring are already slow seasons for lobster exportation, but they’ve slowed to a crawl this year, said Bill Bruns, operations manager for The Lobster Co. of Arundel, Maine. The company has already laid off eight of its 15 workers and will face an even harder hit if the lack of exports carries into May and June, he said.
The price reduction hasn’t necessarily reached consumers yet, as March is typically an expensive month in which to buy live lobster because of lack of supply. But that could change when the fishing season picks up in the summer, Sackton said. For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
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