But with just days before the arrival of 2000, demand for lobster is sluggish, leaving sellers with far too many of the crustaceans on their hands. That's less than the 750,000 pounds he moved during the same time last year, and far below the 1.5 million pounds he had hoped for. Now he is worried his overstock will turn to cannibalism. The ever-dimming prospect of a lobster in every pot also means bad news for suppliers of frozen lobster meat. In the spring, many lobster processors that supply restaurants and supermarkets with frozen lobster meat increased their purchasing by as much 25 percent, anticipating a strong year of sales.
Some suppliers blame the lackluster demand on high prices .
Indeed, consumers such as Brian Grossman, shopping at a Waltham Costco, bypassed expensive lobster tails during a New Year's shopping outing this week. One Atlanta-based wholesaler said he's looking to future holidays to unload his supply of frozen lobster meat. Inland Seafood Inc. Because lobster meat will dehydrate and lose taste if stored for more than a year, Demmond said there is one more option for lobster that won't sell. Lobsters are cannibals.