CHICAGO, May 26, 2026 — Fifty dollars for a lobster roll?
That’s the jaw-dropping price some restaurants are now charging for the summertime New England staple, a result of several trends putting a squeeze on coastal fishing boats.
Not the least of those pressures has been a spike in the cost of diesel fuel, a result of import disruptions triggered by the war with Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. The price paid for diesel by fishermen refueling their boats has soared by 47% since mid-February, according to the price-tracking website GlobalPetrolPrices.com.
Some New England news reports say some local lobster boats are spending around $15,000 per fill-up.
That increase is at least a percentage point higher than the surge in gasoline prices.
At the same time, commercial fishers are catching fewer lobsters, particularly in the usually fruitful waters off the coast of Maine. It is not clear how much of the drop in supply is a result of commercial catchers hanging up their gear because of soaring operating costs versus a drop in the area’s lobster population.
The Trump Administration’s tariffs have also taken a toll, according to New England’s fishing industry. With the costs of imported shrimp, crab and other premium seafoods artificially driven to new heights, demand for lobsters has swelled, putting more upward pressure on prices.
Whatever the factor, the wholesale price of lobster has risen to as much as $15 per pound, according to a variety of sources, as opposed to a price of $13 a pound last year and $6.14 in 2024.
The price of a 1.25-pound lobster at Red Lobster in the suburb of New York City has risen to $38.99.
Legal Sea Foods restaurants in the Boston area are charging $38 for a lobster roll packed with a quarter pound of meat and $53 for a half-pound version.
Luke’s Lobster, a fast-casual chain specializing in lobster rolls, charges between $28 to $39 per roll at one of its New York City branches.