Crab prices are exploding: holidaymakers and fishermen in the North Sea are desperate!

Crab prices are exploding: holidaymakers and fishermen in the North Sea are desperate!

For many tourists, a holiday on the North Sea is inseparably linked to the enjoyment of crab rolls. But this year that enjoyment is being dampened by rising prices and declining quality. There are currently complaints from both holidaymakers and restaurateurs in the region about the size and quality of the crabs on offer. While prices for fresh crabs are skyrocketing, the animals themselves are becoming smaller and smaller. This means that many holidaymakers find peeling the small crabs tedious and frustrating.

One of the crab sellers in Büsum, the “Shrimp Cutter Andrea”, has rejected the allegations. He emphasizes that his company only sells large crabs and that the small crabs sold directly at the harbor do not come from them. There are also voices calling for crabs to be abandoned in order to protect stocks in the North Sea. This demand could become more important in the near future as the situation for shrimp fishermen is tense.

Background of the price increases

A central reason for the rising prices is the declining crab stocks in the North Sea. These are being decimated by a strong predator, the whiting. André Claußen, a crab fisherman since 2009, describes the current situation as the most difficult in his career. “The stocks are constantly low and we can no longer get the catches together,” he reports.

Additionally, legal restrictions have significantly limited fishing seasons for crab fishermen. Currently, fishermen are allowed to fish for a maximum of 36 hours per week, which only secures meager quantities. Following protests, the fishing time was recently increased to 72 hours per week, but the stock situation remains critical. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has introduced strict guidelines that allow fishermen to pay higher prices for certified crabs, but low stocks are the main cause of the economic difficulties, not the MSC seal itself.

Economic impact and gastronomy

The impact on the catering industry is serious: a restaurateur in Büsum currently pays just under 60 euros net per kilo of finished crabs. The rising costs are forcing many restaurants to increase their prices for crab dishes. One restaurateur is already planning to adjust the price of her popular crab soup to cover the increased costs.

The future of the crab fishery is up in the air. A Fisheries Future Commission has recommended reducing the size of the German crab fleet by 30 percent in order to protect stocks. Fishermen are also demanding government help in view of the smaller fishing areas and increasing legal restrictions. The region must deal with this complex situation in order to ensure that the traditionally popular enjoyment of crabs in the North Sea continues in the future.