Crab prices explode: Desprudent holidaymakers and fishermen in the North Sea!

Crab prices explode: Desprudent holidaymakers and fishermen in the North Sea!

Büsum, Deutschland - Vacation on the North Sea is inextricably linked to the enjoyment of Krabben buns for many tourists. But this year this enjoyment is subdued by rising prices and decreasing quality. Currently there are complaints about the size and nature of the crabs offered by holidaymakers and restaurateurs in the region. While the prices for fresh crabs shoot up, the animals themselves are getting smaller. This means that many holidaymakers find the pules of the little crabs to be tedious and frustrating.

One of the crab sellers in Büsum, the "crab cutter Andrea", rejected the allegations. He emphasizes that his company only sells large crabs and that the small crabs that are sold directly at the harbor do not come from them. There are also voices that require a waiver of crabs to protect the stocks in the North Sea. This demand could be given more weight in the near future because the situation of crab fishermen is tense.

background of the price increases

A central reason for the rising prices are the falling crab stocks in the North Sea. These are greatly decimated by a strong predator, the Wittling. André Claussen, a crab fisherman since 2009, describes the current location as the most difficult in his career. "The stocks are consistently low and we no longer get the catches together," he reports.

In addition, legal restrictions have significantly limited the catch times for crab fishermen. Currently, the fishermen can catch a maximum of 36 hours a week, which only secures sparse quantities. After protests, the catch time was recently increased to 72 hours a week, but the existing situation remains critical. The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has introduced strict guidelines that enable fishermen's higher prices for certified crabs, but the small inventory is the main cause for the economic difficulties, not the MSC seal itself.

economic effects and gastronomy

The effects on the catering trade are serious: a restaurateur in Büsum currently pays almost 60 euros net per kilo of finished crabs. The rising costs force many restaurants to increase their prices for crab dishes. A restaurateur is already planning to adapt the price for her popular crab soup to cover the increased costs.

The future of crab fishing is in the stars. A FISSCHUND FORMATION COMMATION has recommended that the German crab fleet reduce 30 percent to protect the stocks. Fischer also call for state aid in view of the smaller fishing areas and the increasing legal restrictions. With this complex situation, the region has to deal with the traditionally popular enjoyment of crabs in the North Sea in the future.