Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLCScarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Firm Insights

Lobstermen Fall Victim to Supply and Demand

Author: Dan Brecher

Date: September 13, 2013

Key Contacts

Back

Businesses of all sizes and in all industries must contend with the age-old economic principle of supply and demand. Whether your business provides products or services, the competition in the market and the receptiveness of consumers will greatly influence the prices you can charge as well as your profitability.

The powerful interplay between supply and demand was abundantly clear in this summer’s lobster season. Prices for the popular seafood remain near historic lows due to a “glut” of supply in the market.

According to the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the volume of the State’s lobster harvests has risen sharply from about 28 million pounds in 1990 to 126 million pounds in 2012. Lobster sold for a record high of $4.63 per pound in 2005, compared to a record low of $2.69 last year.

Prices were expected to rebound this summer until stored lobster inventory from last year began to hit the market. “Overall profitability of the industry is suffering,” Patrice McCarron, executive director of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association told CNBC. The state’s lobster supply has increased 80 percent since 2008. “So we’re in a situation where we’re trying to move an ever-increasing supply chain into a weak market.”

To deal with the oversupply, Maine, the widely heralded lobster capital of the world, is taking steps to diversify. State officials have opened river damns to increase stocks of sea-run fish, such as Atlantic salmon, cod, and haddock. The Penobscot East Resource Center has also started a permit bank for fisherman without federal access rights.

Of course, supply and demand problems are not limited to the lobster industry. Wheat, corn and other commodities are also subject to the realities of daily living, including weather, disease, population growth, and consumer preferences.  And, gold fluctuates with the stability of governments, economies and the status of international relations.

If you have any questions about this post or would like to discuss the legal issues involved, please contact me, Dan Brecher, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work.

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC, LLC

Related Posts

See all
Scarinci Hollenbeck Expands NYC Real Estate and Litigation Practices ADDING four litigators post image

Scarinci Hollenbeck Expands NYC Real Estate and Litigation Practices ADDING four litigators

NYC Real Estate and Litigation Attorney Ryan O. Miller and Team Join Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC New York City, NY – August 13, 2025 – Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC has strengthened its Real Estate and Litigation practices with the addition of four New York City-based attorneys. Ryan Miller, who joins as a partner, is well known for […]

Author: Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC

Link to post with title - "Scarinci Hollenbeck Expands NYC Real Estate and Litigation Practices ADDING four litigators"
What is Business Law and Why Is it Important? post image

What is Business Law and Why Is it Important?

Business law plays a critical role in nearly every aspect of running a successful enterprise, from negotiating a commercial lease to drafting employee policies to fulfilling corporate disclosure obligations. Understanding what is business law and your legal obligations can help your business run smoothly and build productive relationships with clients, business partners, regulators, and others. […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "What is Business Law and Why Is it Important?"
Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals post image

Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals

Corporate transactions can have significant implications for a corporation and its stakeholders. For deals to be successful, companies must act strategically to maximize value and minimize risk. It is also important to fully understand the legal and financial ramifications of corporate transactions, both in the near and long term. Understanding Corporate Transactions The term “corporate […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Corporate Transactions: Best Practices for Successful Deals"
How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025 post image

How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025

Ongoing economic uncertainty is forcing many companies to make tough decisions, which includes lowering staff levels. The legal landscape on both the state and federal level also continues to evolve, especially with significant changes to the priorities of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) under the Trump Administration. Terminating an employee is one of the […]

Author: Angela A. Turiano

Link to post with title - "How to Conduct a Fair and Legal Employee Termination in 2025"
Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know post image

Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know

While filing annual reports may seem like a nuisance, failing to do so can have significant ramifications. These include fines, reputational harm, and interruption of your business operations. In basic terms, “admin dissolution for annual report” means that a company is dissolved by the government. This happens because it failed to submit its annual report […]

Author: Dan Brecher

Link to post with title - "Admin Dissolution for Annual Report: What You Need to Know"
What Is Antitrust Litigation Law? post image

What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?

Antitrust laws are designed to ensure that businesses compete fairly. There are three federal antitrust laws that businesses must navigate. These include the Sherman Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, and the Clayton Act. States also have their own antitrust regimes. These may vary from federal regulations. Understanding antitrust litigation helps businesses navigate these complex […]

Author: Robert E. Levy

Link to post with title - "What Is Antitrust Litigation Law?"

No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!

Explore What Matters Most to You.

Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.

Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.

Let`s get in touch!

* The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form. By providing a telephone number and submitting this form you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message & data rates may apply. You can reply STOP to opt-out of further messaging.

Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!