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Hot fat crabs, spread out over yesterday’s news, cost as much as 20 percent more than they did last year.
More tourists eating more crabs, added to rising production costs are sending crab prices higher this year, said Larry Simns, president of the Maryland Watermen’s Association.
“Crabs are more because of the cost of fuel and bait. The market on crabs has expanded more than we’ll ever be able to supply,” said Simns.
Last year, a gallon of diesel cost him $2 a gallon. This year, it’s up to about $4.70 a gallon.
He also said the cost of razor clams and menhaden – bait used to catch the crabs – has also increased. To catch bait, it also takes more fuel. Increasing energy costs to freeze bait also increases prices, said Simns.
“We’ve done such a great marketing job on crabs over the years. Every year, the demand gets higher and there’s no more to catch,” he said.
“The whole thing revolves around fuel. Everyone has to use fuel in this operation,” he said.
Simns said despite forecasts of a lackluster year, the catch is much better than predicted.
“There’s been a big run of small crabs more than usual this spring,” he said. A bushel, which contains six dozen, is anywhere from $10 to $20 higher than last year, he said.
A good year, he said would produce about 40 million pounds from Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.
But crab harvesting is decreasing. In 2006, crabbers harvested 30 million pounds, Simns said. Last year, only 20 million pounds of crab were caught. Because of demand, local seafood restaurants also buy crabs from the Carolinas, Texas and Louisiana.
Missy Murphy, manager of Lazy Susan’s Crab House in Lewes, said her business increased its prices for a dozen crabs by $4 because of fewer crabs and higher fuel costs.
Last year, a dozen crabs cost $32. This year, a dozen crabs is $36. “There’s a bit of a shortage. It also trickles down from higher gas prices.
“We get fuel charged on top of the cost for a bushel,” Murphy said. All the crabs she sells come from Maryland, Virginia and North Carolina, she said. Despite higher prices, the demand is still there, she said.
“It’s been pretty busy. They’re not going to give up their summer fun,” Murphy said. Linda Luksic, manager of Claws Crab House in Rehoboth Beach, said so far this year, crabs have been hard to find. She said her restaurant has been buying them from South Carolina and Texas. Only recently have they been able to find them locally.
“I know crabs are very scarce this year. But our prices are very compatible. We haven’t raised our prices since last year,” she said.
Scott Fornwalt, owner of Fenwick Crab House, said the Chesapeake Bay is not producing quality crabs.
No. 1 crabs are bigger and meatier and are the choice crabs, he said.
“There are some No. 1’s out there, but No. 2’s are junk. It’s pretty diminished right now. That’s not to say it won’t pick up,” said Fornwalt.
He attributes higher prices to fewer crabs this year. The Midwest floods produced water that reached the Mississippi Delta area, which scattered the crabs. “They’re not where they were just weeks before,” said Fornwalt. “When you diminish a supply from one area, even from Louisiana, people will go to other areas, driving up prices,” he said.
Crab consumption peaks around the holidays, just as room occupancy rates do, causing crab prices to fluctuate. “Demand changes too. Memorial Day weekend and Fourth of July, we sell a lot of smaller crabs. As summer progresses, the market changes,” he said.
True crab lovers, he said, will not be deterred by higher prices.
“They want big crabs and they’ll pay money for big crabs,” said Fornwalt.
Lewes Fish House carries only No. 1 male crabs from Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia, said manager Deanna Slater.
She said a bushel will cost crab eaters $185 – about $10 more than last year. She also said the business refuses to charge more to consumers as wholesales prices increase.
“We never jack up our prices. I don’t think we’re selling as much as last year either. Why? The economy. People are spending so much to go on vacation, they’re not spending as much on crabs,” Slater said.
At the two locations of Jake’s Seafood House, crab cakes are a house specialty. Though he doesn’t sell whole crabs, owner Bill Klemkowski said, he’s noted increased prices for crabmeat.
“I buy a lot of crabmeat. I would say you’re looking at $2 more a pound for this,” he said.
Early in the season, he said, he paid about $25 per pound for crabmeat. “You pay more earlier in the season because local crabs aren’t plentiful. Nicer crabs are sold for steaming. There’s high demand for crabs in the basket,” he said.
Klemkowski said seafood costs across the board are increasing.
“I think in general, business is down this year, but we still sell quite a bit. Fish is getting just as out of hand. A year ago I paid $4 a pound for salmon. I bet I’m paying $6 a pound for Atlantic salmon this year. There’s not enough products out there,” he said.
“We expanded the market so much, and got people interested in crabs so much there’s never going to be enough,” Simns said.
Where to get crabs
Among the Cape Region restaurants that sell steamed crabs are the following:
Claws Crab House - 227-2529
Crabbers Cove - 226-1090
Crabby Dick’s - 645-9132
Ed’s Chickens and Crabs - 227-9484
Fenwick Crab House - 539-2500
Jimmy Lynn’s Seafood - 644-9329
Lazy Susan’s Crab House - 645-5115
Wahoo Rawbar & Crab Co. - 227-6700
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