More Locals Can Catch Snapper
June 13, 2018First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States
June 13, 2018
Local shrimp fishermen and dealers say the industry’s prices are locally hitting some of the lowest points in nearly a decade, and warning of a market collapse if some kind of help is not forthcoming.
What kind of help will do the most good has not been settled, but the industry’ voices will speak 4 p.m. Friday at the Lennox Hotard American Post at 602 Legion Drive in Houma. Among confirmed attendees is U.S. Sen. John Kennedy R-La.
“I hope he can sit with us before the meeting so that we can explain what is going on with us,” said Louisiana Shrimp Association President Acey Cooper. “We have concerns that India is bringing shrimp from Indonesia, we are importing 155,000 metric tons from India, they are either bringing in shrimp from Indonesia or producing that much. Either way it’s not good.”
Cooper plans to request a study of why prices are so low through Louisiana SeaGrant, and looking forward to suggestions Kennedy — and other shrimpers — may have.
Cooper finds particularly irksome the difficulty he and other shrimping activists have had getting support from the Louisiana Restaurant Association for a state truth-in-menu law.
“We produce 100 million pounds of seafood in this state but people come visit here and thinking they are eating our shrimp, but they are eating shrimp from somewhere else,” Cooper said.
The complaints are coming from single-boat operators of tiny vessels to owners of multiple double-rigged trawlers.
Price lists from buyers or at docks tell the story in stark numbers.
Shrimp numbering 60-70 to the pound are fetching 80 cents per pound, with some smaller shrimp priced at 55 cents per pound. The very biggest shrimp — jumbo creatures numbering less than 10 to the pound, are priced at $2.35.
Angela Portier of Chauvin, whose family has owned shrimp boats for generations and manages a fleet, will be at the meeting Friday and is pleased that Kennedy will attend.
“We want to know if there Is anything he can do to
Local shrimp fishermen said dealers say that prices are lower now than’ ve been in a decade and efforts are being to try and fix the struggling industry A meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday to allow local votces to be heard
