What Is The Lobster Season In Sweden? Hummerpremiär Explained

You’ve probably heard about lobsters before due to their reputation for being a delicacy in the west, but what makes the crustaceans so sought after? Part of the reason is due to the lobster season in Sweden, that only allows fishermen to catch lobsters between the first Monday after 20th of September and the 30th Of November every year, in Swedish waters.

Photo by Humphrey Mulebra

Lobsters can live up to an estimated 50 years in the wild, and take up to 7 years to mature. In Sweden, all of the lobsters are caught after the hummerpremiär, when the lobster fishing ban is lifted.

Whether or not you’ve tried the crustacean delicacy, I can guarantee that it’s probably not a staple part of your diet due to the prices for frozen lobster in Sweden being roughly 300 SEK/kg. The prices for fresh lobster can exceed this figure by hundreds of kronors. In Gothenburg, the first lobsters caught in a new season, the morning after the annual fishing ban is lifted, have been reported to have sold for a staggering 10,400 SEK/kg!

Hummerpremiär = hummer (lobster) + premiär (premiere). So, yeah, just like how you have a movie premiere, but with...um, lobsters?

When Is This Years Lobster Fishing Season?

Photo by Lee Jeffs

Lobsters nets, such as these ones, are the preferred option for lobster fishing. The net-cages have tunnels with a one-way entrance, luring the crustacean in with bait and trapping them.

This year, the lobster fishing season, hummerpremiär, begins on Monday 23rd September and ends on Saturday 30th Of November. This is the best time of year to try a lobster dinner in Sweden, as it’s the only time you'll get it fresh! You can, of course, buy frozen lobster year round. Lobster season is a big deal in Sweden but other countries, like the UK, have no closed season meaning you can fish for lobster at any time.

If you’ve spent any time in Sweden before, you’ll probably have noticed that they’re big on their seafood. Dishes loaded with prawns, salmon and even caviar (!) will make an appearance on most menus and cafe displays. Every year in August, the Swedes even have a crayfish party where they drink snaps, sing songs and, yes, – eat crayfish! (Crayfish differs to lobsters as they live in freshwater, have a different diet and are much cheaper).

Read more about Kräftskiva, the annual Swedish crayfish party.

A Brief History Of Lobsters

Photo by Boston 

The lobsters you see on the plate at the restaurant might be bright orange, but lobsters are actually dark in colour until they are cooked. However, there can be a spectrum of colours lobsters are found in, due to genetic variants.

Believe it or not, lobsters were once considered the poor man’s food and even fed to prisoners, much to the dismay of the inmates. This is because there was once an overabundance of lobster, and once fishermen reeled in their catch, the lobster meat would only last for a short time before developing harmful bacteria. This led to the popularity of canned lobster meat, being seen as nothing more than a staple food to local fisher-towns.

But, how the tables have turned since! Lobsters are hard to catch in large numbers and are said to take between 5 – 7 years to grow to full size. Due to their slow-maturing in cold waters, the crustacean is said to harbour a delicate, sweet taste that is now appreciated and sought after worldwide. The best place to go lobster fishing in Sweden is on the west coast where you can go on a lobster safari, close to Gothenburg.

Fun fact: lobsters are dark in colour until they are cooked, after which they turn an orange-red hue.

Read more about the top 5 Swedish foods you have to try.

So, now you know everything there is to know about lobsters! Well...almost. If you’re a budding fisherman and are thinking of going lobster fishing in Sweden at any point, then make sure it’s between the 23rd September and 30th of November 2019. If you have no plans on going lobster fishing or ordering lobster at a restaurant but are still curious as to what it tastes like, why not try the Swedish classic Abbas Fishballs in Lobster sauce. Ok, it’s not quite the real thing but it’s worth a try!

Have you ever tried lobster meat before – if so, do you think it’s worth the price? Let us know in the comments!