The Sea – Pirateering

As we can see, there are many reasons that make seafood so expensive, however, we have just scratched the surface, we have got to dive into each and every one of these aspects in order to truly understand what goes into getting that seafood on your plate. Seafood is expensive because it cannot be raised or caught as easily as chicken or beef. Moreover, there are many environmental regulations that raise the cost of acquiring seafood. Furthermore, many seafood items must proceed through special processing mechanisms which drive their prices further. The biggest reason for the high cost of seafood is that the demand is constantly increasing for various reasons, and one of those reasons is because of the health benefits that come from seafood, and most of those benefits are great for when you are dieting. This is the main reason, demand outstrips supply, this is true of most expensive foods, however, there are some other valid reasons why seafood is expensive, that we will talk about later on in the article once we have clarified what exactly is seafood. The Overarching Reason for the Price Rise The first, and probably biggest, reason, why seafood is so expensive, is getting a catch from one place to another, still fresh. One of the reasons why seafood costs so much is because getting it from one place to another takes so much work. The primary, and probably the most important, reason, why seafood costs so much, is because it is difficult to get fresh seafood from place to place. Another reason why fish and other seafood can cost so much more is the processing costs. The methods fisherman have to use to capture their seafood is part of why the prices of lobster, fish, and other favorite seafood are higher than those for beef or chicken. It is incredibly hard to catch seafood in large quantities; it is far harder than fencing off millions of cows, chickens, and hogs. Fishermen must set out on boats into rivers, oceans, and seas, working to catch fish and other animals. Seafood Is Highly Desired Seafood is indeed very highly sought after, and overfishing is a real threat to certain areas and certain types of fish. Seafood is highly sought after around the world, and it is harder to get ingredients from the sea than it is from farming on land. Fish are just as needed and demanded on the inland side, causing the seafood prices to skyrocket. The reason the prices are so high in the seafood category is that there is a limit on the amount of wild fish you can get in a given time frame until all of the world's fish stocks fall, and multiple species are moved into expansion. Most of the seafood is now acquired through massive fisheries, with incredibly large nets, that travel very far out into the ocean, so the process of even getting the seafood is a massive operation, and prices increase along with the amount of labor involved. All of that transport costs a considerable amount of money, which, in turn, increases the prices of whatever kind of seafood someone orders. The costs to harvest, which include fishing costs, as well as processing a fish to make sure that it is ready to ship, are pretty costly. Seafood (including shellfish) needs to be transported soon after being harvested, into containers that are kept extremely cold and sold off equally quickly. Prices Are Expected to Keep Rising In addition to seafood being expensive, unless something is done about overfishing and other factors which will just drive up prices in the long run, it is going to keep going up. It is obvious that the prices of seafood are not going down while the demand is so high, and that prices are staying the same because even though seafood is expensive for the general public, it is surprising it is not even more expensive considering the amount of money it actually takes to supply people and customers. In addition to all of the aspects mentioned above, which are applicable to all the different types of seafood, there is also the aspect of scarcity and the preparation processes which would simply drive up the prices for certain ingredients to such a degree that they are basically unaffordable to ordinary people or unwise purchases. Eating seafood is not always expensive; it is just that you have to have the correct information on where your seafood comes from. Also, within Caviar, there are certain species that only increase the price further. Other caviar is not quite that pricey, but it is still taking the cake for being one of the more expensive types of seafood. Most Seafood Is Known for Being Expensive There are a lot of forms of caviar in the world (that is, eggs from fish that have not been fertilized), and some are a lot pricier than others. Seafood is far more expensive than meat, and, in fact, one pound of salmon filets costs more on average than an American steer, considered to be one of the best types of steaks that are accessible to the general public. Mussels are more abundant and fairly easy to catch than other types of seafood, which is why their per-pound prices are far lower than those for other types of seafood and shellfish. Always compare prices of fresh versus frozen fish and seafood before purchasing; chances are that the frozen ones will give you a lower price. Cheaper Alternatives Are Readily Available When shopping for lean proteins, keep in mind that fish is usually cheaper than chicken, and substitute seafood for more balanced meals. Get is because frozen seafood keeps far longer than fresh seafood, so you are less likely to find the supermarket having to throw it out at the end of the day if it has not sold. Another contributing factor to higher prices is the difficulty involved when cooking some species of seafood. Shrimp are costly because of a combination of an early death rate, poor breeding practices, diseases, and just the fact that seafood (including shellfish) goes sour really fast. Other types of seafood, such as octopus or calamari, are truly delicate, requiring an outstanding balance of hot temperature, quick cooking time, and not burning too much. Unlike meat, which is just carved off of a bone, seafood requires specialized, carefully-curated skills for handling. One way to save on seafood is to consider it more of a complement to the dish, not a major component. In short, wild seafood is more flavorful but is far more expensive and complicated to work with paperwork-wise. The world is not made equal, and there are countries surrounded by water, such as Italy, Spain, Greece, and Cyprus (to name a few), and you will always find far more recipes for seafood being considered traditional, there compared to elsewhere.