Lobster season opened today - but, of course, this year, there's not going to be any lobster fest. That's partly because of the limitation on social gatherings, but it's also because the process for lobster are so low - that fishermen say it';s not worthwhile to fish.
The world price for lobster has plummeted form $33 dollars last year to $12 dollars this year due to weak international demand. That's because restaurants have been closed for months - and they have lobster stored in their freezers.
And, for local fishers they also can't sell too much of the prized shellfish locally because there's no tourism!
Edwardo Arceo from Caye Caulker is tiring to organise the fishers to get a better price. Via phone he told us he is hoping for government intervention:
Voice of: Edwardo Arceo, Organizing Lobster Fishermen
"At the moment is that the fishermen are being underpaid for their product and before this Covid-19 they had a choice to sell their product to the restaurateurs and the tourism sector, but that is not in place at the moment and they are being forced to sell their product to the cooperatives and to the few buyers in private sector, but all of them are paying between $12-$15 per pound and that is unacceptable for the fishermen."
Jules Vasquez
"Explain to me what you mean by unacceptable insofar as we know that right now the international market the price is very low. Last year it was very high, it was finish off at $33 I believe and this year right now it is very low and it could even go lower. Is there anything that anyone can do, because it's not like the government can buy the lobster. The government it can hardly pay its salaries."
Voice of: Edwardo Arceo, Organizing Lobster Fishermen
"What happened is that the prices are being monopolized by the investors and also the cooperatives have a huge operation cost and loans to pay which force them to pay less, but at the end of the day this situation is getting out of control and the government needs to standardize the prices somehow. I am advising them: 1) to come together as fishermen, voice their opinion, seek help from the government on the standardize of prices and at the end of the day it is a problem that we as Belizeans need to come together and see that the fishermen get the best price, because at the end of the day they have a family and the sea only have so much lobster. After that first 2 weeks there won't be much lobster out there and for you to go out there and catch 2-3 lobster for $12, its best you stay home and do nothing."
Arceo says some fishers may be freezing their catch to hold out for a better price. But price watchers say the low world price could even go lower. We'll keep following it.
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