The 2026 crabbing season is kicking off on Delmarva, but watermen and seafood businesses are facing challenges due to rising costs. Bruce Cole of Cole’s Seafood House and Deli mentioned that expenses for crabbing have increased, making it more expensive to catch and sell crabs. As a result, demand has weakened as prices go up. Alan Sorrell, who works at the market, has witnessed substantial price hikes, with limited supply of fresh crab meat adding more pressure. Waterman and seafood market owner Glenn Blough also highlighted the challenges faced by watermen on the water, where inflation has raised the costs of operations. The balance between supply and demand will determine the direction of prices for the season. The hope is that warmer weather and better catches will help stabilize both supply and prices in the coming weeks.
