‘It’s the perfect storm...’
LOBSTER and crab fisherman Edward Moore from Ballyferriter fishes the waters around Dingle Bay. He describes the current situation as a ‘ total disaster’. With international markets gone, all that remains is the domestic market. However, lobster and crab are high-end, luxury products and there simply isn’t enough consumption in Ireland to make their business viable. Easter is traditionally the busiest time for lobster sales. This time last year lobsters was selling for around €24 per kilo; this year they are selling for less than €6 to €10 per kilo.
“The prices being quoted now are actually lower than what we received back in 1978-79,” Edward says.
“We’re being offered as low as €6 and €10 a kilo for lobster. If you take the difference in the value of money back in 1979 versus 2020, we were probably getting close to three times more back then.”
Edward says there is little point in ‘demanding’ a compensation package as people all over the world are having to endure similar losses.
“We’re out on a wing and a prayer here as it’s a case of what you ‘get’ rather than what you demand. Every business in the country is hit. Traditionally, you must ask what compensation did fishermen ever get for anything?”
Many fishing boats have already endured a harsh four month loss of income due to the inclement winter weather. This is the time of year when fishermen try to recoup their loss of income. But not this year.
“What’s happening right now is the perfect storm scenario,” Edward says.
“Some fisherman are trying to adapt by using social media to sell stocks. The problem here is you’re selling at €6 or €10 a kilo to buyers who are cooking it and putting it away. When this is all over, and fish in storage comes back into the market, it’s going to have a detrimental effect on price. I think when we do finally come out of this we’re heading into a world recession.”