Lobster Economic Questions

What determines the cost of a lobster?

Lobsters are priced by the pound, so it depends on the size of the lobster you are buying.  It also depends on where you are buying the lobster.  If you are buying a lobster in a restaurant they will generally cost more.  This is because the restaurant knows when consumers are there they are willing to pay more than usual, and also they have to prepare the lobster.  If you are buying a lobster in a store they will not cost as much because you are usually doing the work yourself.  Unless you buy a pre cooked lobster, which will cost even less.  In stores, live lobsters have the highest quality, and will therefore cost the most.

http://taatrain.cffm.umn.edu/publications/LobsterMrktOverview.pdf

How does the lobster get to the restaurants and stores?

The lobsters go through a long process before getting to where it may be bought by consumers.  First it must be caught by fishermen.  They then sell their catch to the dealers.  The dealers pay the fishermen, then move on to transport and sell the lobsters to processors and distributors.  The processors and distributors then sell the lobster to restaurants and retail, who then sell the lobsters to consumers.  

http://taatrain.cffm.umn.edu/publications/LobsterMrktOverview.pdf

What is the average salary of a lobster fisherman?

Lobster fisherman can work through out the year but have their biggest catches in the summer.  For this reason the main lobstering season is from August to March.  The deck crew usually receives a flat wage but the captain and higher ranking fisherman can receive a percentage of the profit.  The bigger the catch, the more money they receive, because of this they will get the most money in the summer months.  The average annual wage of a fisherman in 2010 was $27,880.

http://www.ehow.com/info_8636952_average-salary-lobster-fisherman.html

Where do most lobsters in the world come from?

The major producers of lobster are the the USA and Canada, controlling about %60 of the market.  

http://taatrain.cffm.umn.edu/publications/LobsterMrktOverview.pdf