A bountiful supply of blue crabs is not always guaranteed. But for waterman Sonny Norris — who owns Norris Seafood Market in Essex — his livelihood depends on it.
“I’ve been doing it all my life, and it’s just up and down. It’s just mother nature,” said Norris.
A recent survey out of the Chesapeake Bay shows a surge in the crab population.
With more than 550 million this year, the new crab survey indicates that Maryland is up from 410 million last year, making it the fourth highest crab population in 20 years.
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10 comments:
Yet the prices remain sky high especially on holidays. Those poor suffering watermen faced with record high fuel costs...oh wait, that was 3 years ago and gas/diesel prices are down now. Just like when airlines raise prices and fees due to the high cost of jet fuel but didn't drop them now that oil is cheap.
If people keep paying it, why would they lower the prices?
1:00. I don't begrudge the watermen any profits they can eke out. You think it's an easy job? You think they are getting rich? Thank god we still have folks willing to work in sometimes awful conditions, maintaining their own aging boats and equipment so you can sit down to a big crab feast and complain about what you spent.
You people have no idea what it cost to run a business . Especially a honest an successful one at that. The taxes an surcharges faced are extremely high! Let alone all the restrictions put on by people across the bridge who have no idea about it other than to HELP SAVE THE BAY when it's the waterman who really take care of the bay . There lives and households depend on it.
It is the middlemen that are gouging the consumers. You can get a bushel of #1 for under $100 retail price at most honest crab houses. Resellers and seafood stores are charging $175-$300 a bushel for the same crabs.
1:59: "it's the waterman who really take care of the bay"
HaHahaha....that right there is funny. They will harvest the very last crab & sell it, if they were allowed to. They will dredge up every bit of bottom to get the last oyster, clam, or winter crab, if they were allowed to. And other than licensing fees for permission to harvest the natural bounties of the state, they pay nothing for the natural resource that they sell. At least farmers pay for their land and the seeds that they grow. They don't just buy a license and a tractor and go around harvesting state crops to sell.
Watermen get no sympathy from me.
The waterman around me are only getting $60 a bushel for ones.blame the middleman he is the one sticking it to you
You clearly don't have a clue about our businesses or what we pay. You need to be informed. And so you don't sound so stupid talking to people or posting stuff .... We do pay for spat, we recycle oyster shells they serve you and your family or when you get one shucked. We do that we do that to replant bottom and grow more. If you would like to be informed on every detail I'd be more than glad to. Joe could do a whole article on the cost an just what all we do. We farm and work the the water hence the term aquaculture .
Wait until the Labor Day weekend is approaching, and listen to the claims of a "crab shortage" and "over fishing" and "low numbers" to further spike the price of crabs! Put this article on your calendars, folks; it happens every year like clockwork!
Remember last summer?
They game us every year.
I stopped buying them unless it is from a waterman directly and never pay more than $80/bushel. If not available, then I buy wholesale backfin at $12/lb and eat crab cakes.
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