Overview
- Seafood sellers say lobster meat now costs about $75 per pound, which has pushed many rolls to $30–$38 and led some to warn that $50 is possible at high‑end counters.
- A seasonal ban from February 1 to April 30 in much of Massachusetts forces most lobstermen to pull traps to protect migrating North Atlantic right whales, shrinking winter supply.
- State fisheries officials confirm that cold water and fragile winter lobsters limit harvesting, and they note added strain from Maine and Canada supply, tariffs, labor gaps, and higher fuel costs.
- This winter’s rough weather made trips risky and deadly in some cases, which reduced fishing days and left some boats short on crew.
- Dealers expect prices to ease and catches to rise as spring and summer fishing resume, though timing is uncertain, and last year’s strong Massachusetts landings still represent less than 10% of U.S. supply.