Low Brown Crab Volumes Expected in Portugal Over Peak Christmas Period

The peak of Brown Crab consumption in Portugal is during the Christmas period. This peak consumption period coincides with the best quality season for brown crab, when the female crabs are full of roe, unlike during the summer when the crabs are light/empty. This year, the sales and availability of brown crab over the Christmas period will likely decrease in most of the Portuguese seafood shops due to an alarming supply shortage. Countries like Norway, Iceland or Denmark are completely sold out at this time of the year and are close to the end of their seasons because of rough weather. This leaves all hope for brown crab supplies in UK and Ireland catches which have been inconsistent this year and will probably not solve the supply shortage. Thus, brown crab prices are expected to be high over the Christmas period in Portugal.