Shrimp roll soon to be more expensive?

All eyes are on northern shrimp: negotiations between the industry and Quebec fishermen begin next week to establish the value of the crustacean this year. In fish markets, there are fears of a price increase.

Shrimp roll lovers, you may have to pay more for your sandwich next summer. With the small quotas imposed on local fishermen, the price of local northern shrimp could increase.

Some fishmongers expect it, even resign themselves to it, hoping that if there is an increase, it will not be dizzying. Because local northern shrimp remains the most affordable Quebec seafood, far from the prices of crab or lobster.

Jean-Paul Gagné, general director of the Quebec Fishing Industry Association, points out that, ultimately, it is the consumer who will have the last word. However, according to him, under the circumstances, Quebec northern shrimp will actually sell for more this year. But the increase should not be too significant, he says, because consumers will go for other shrimp, particularly Argentinian, which is less expensive. And less good, specifies Jean-Paul Gagné, who has been at the head of the Quebec Fishing Industry Association for 30 years. And who has never seen such small quotas for shrimp – the quantity allowed by Ottawa for fishing, depending on the vitality of the stocks.

Basically, the price of shrimp is negotiated between processors and fishermen at the start of each season – a very delicate exercise. It will be particularly so this year, with the fishing restrictions imposed.

On Monday, the Les Fruits de mer de l’Est processing plant in Matane announced its closure, shedding light on certain challenges in the fishing world and reminding us that shrimp quotas are a real headache for all links in the industry.

The fishermen have already announced that they are not all going to go out to sea if the prices we give them for shrimp are not higher than those of recent years, because they will be in deficit. We risk seeing groupings of quotas, therefore several captains working together – and fewer people on the boats.

Another uncertainty: the start date of fishing. It can start from 1^er April, but fishermen must wait until processors are ready to receive their harvests. Some fishermen sell directly to fishmongers: these will go out to sea more quickly.

It must be understood that shrimp being rarer, the time spent at sea is longer for now smaller catches.

No shortage

Northern shrimp is mainly fished in the Sept-Îles region, followed by Anticosti Island and the St. Lawrence estuary. Restrictions apply everywhere.

In order for this whole situation not to have too much impact on retail prices, we should see a decline in shrimp exports – or even a complete absence.

The current situation should cause the opposite movement this year: Quebec factories could buy northern shrimp from Greenland, Norway or Alaska. In this case, the shrimp is directly frozen at sea, then thawed in Quebec factories and processed.

“It could save the season for factory workers,” specifies Jean-Paul Gagné, who fears a devitalization of certain sectors of Gaspésie with the precariousness of certain fisheries, including shrimp.

In fishmongers

The closure of the Matane factory earlier this week will have had at least this good thing: there is a lot of talk about fishing and consumers are more sensitive to local issues, underlines Jean-Paul Gagné.

Will this be reflected in front of the fish counters if there is indeed an increase in the price of shrimp?

At Palomar, at the Jean-Talon market, Constant Mentzas will continue to buy shrimp until this year – unless the increase is too high for his customers.

The crustacean is already quite affordable, a small increase should be easily absorbed. And it has to stay like that, he says.

“I really like shrimp,” says Constant Mentzas. A 10% increase can be fine. Three times the price would no longer make sense. »

In all cases, the trader recalls the law of supply and demand: if there are fewer shrimps and they cost more, demand will inevitably drop.

In Rimouski, Karel Coulombe works a lot with Quebec shrimp in his processed dishes. If its price rises too much, it could use northern shrimp caught elsewhere.

Its Poissonnerie du rivière has just reopened its doors for the season. ” The decline [de la crevette] is normal,” says the trader, who believes that beyond the warming of the river, there are cycles in marine environments that we must respect, as consumers.