The Louisiana shrimp season opened a little over a week ago. Shrimpers have been out in the coastal waters earning their living. When they get back to the dock, they're finding that the money they're earning is  considerably less than last year.  One shrimper told reporters that his catch was bringing .55 cents a pound at the dock. That same catch last year was commanding almost $2 dollars a pound.

The Louisiana Shrimp Association says the reason why local shrimpers are getting so low prices is a familiar one.

We've had a huge increase in imports and our prices have fallen over 50-percent.

Those are the words of LSA President Clint Guidry. Guidry told the Louisiana Radio Network that local shrimpers are really feeling the effects of imported product on the market.  The local shrimper has not been affected by Asian imports over the past few years because of a disease in that part of the world. Now the Asian imports are back and that is making it tough on the Louisiana shrimper.

All expenses keep rising, fuel, maintenance costs for these fishing vessels have gone through the roof, and you still have to bear all that cost with very little profits.  It gets to a point where you just can't go out anymore.

The hope for local shrimpers is that the Federal government will step in and limit the amount of imported shrimp that can be brought in to the country. That would help stabilize the price and give local shrimpers a chance to actually go out and make money versus losing money every time they crank their boats.

 

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