Have you developed a sudden craving for lobster? Well, that may be because the season officially opens today and fisherfolks have been out at sea all day in hopes of catching that sought after seafood.
And stakeholders in the industry are hopeful of a bigger bounty than last year's COVID crustacean crisis. So, lobster lovers can expect an excess of their favourite dishes.
And to kick off the season, Courtney Menzies visited the Northern Fisheries Cooperation where the first few shipments of lobster came in. Here is her story.
Whether you like them broiled, baked, or bathed in butter, you'll soon be able to enjoy your favourite lobster dish. Restaurants are gearing up for this lobster season, but they're not as excited as the fisherfolk who've been out since dawn with their traps.
The first shipment of lobster 121 pounds was delivered to the Northern Fisheries Cooperation this morning, before 11am.
This year is different though because the fishers had to wait an additional two weeks. Normally, the season starts June 15th, but it's been pushed back, and the chairman of the Co-op says it'll stay that way.
Estevan Solis - Chairman, Northern Fisheries Coop
"I think this will continue, the first of July, because the other countries have already moved it to the first of July, only Belize left, so I think it will continue although July is a rainy month so I think we will have some bad weather but we have to work with it and we will get used to it."
But all that waiting didn't dampen the anticipation that this season will be more successful than last year's.
Estevan Solis
"I think it will be a little bit better this season. Because you know last season, the COVID affect us a lot because up to the export prices, everything, I think this season will be a better one and we would encourage our fishermen, our members, to take the vaccine and we will be in a better position than last season. Last season we approximately export nearly 300,000 pounds and this new year we are expecting a little bit more because this is half a month more so more lobster supposed to be there."
And what do the fishers have to say? Well, our colleagues at the San Pedro Sun spoke with one fisher on the island who's excited to be back on the sea and says this season already looks a lot more promising.
Francisco Morales - Fisherman
"It was good, it felt good because long time we haven't hooked, you know. Season was closed and then till now."
Reporter
"So, it was a good catch today?"
Francisco Morales
"It was a good catch today. Compared to today today was better because we catch more today than last year. Last year we catch little bit, this year we catch more, like 300-400 pounds."
Reporter
"Just today?"
Francisco Morales
"Just today. It's good because the price is a right price they are giving us. Unlike that last time when they were giving us $15 a pound. Now they're giving for 29 or 30, a good price. We build our own lobster trap and we buy our own material like the zinc, the nails, and then we build it and we take it out to the sea and throw it into the water."
And while there's not a lot of lobster on the market for restauranteurs so far, soon they'll be flooded with the prized crustacean for you to grill up or chow down - once you can pay that very dear price.
The season runs until February 28th.
