Shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico are tracking to return the worst annual total in at least 18 years, according to data from NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Center.
Last week, the federal agency announced gulf shrimpers harvested just 7.5 million pounds in October. That is about 47.6 percent lower than the historical average for the month, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance, which has charted the NOAA data dating back 2002. It’s also 2.9 million pounds lighter than the next lowest October, which occurred two years ago.
“Throughout the entirety of the Gulf of Mexico, landings were lower last month than they were in October of last year. In Louisiana and on the west coast of Florida, reported shrimp landings hit an all-time low last month. Landings in Texas were the second-lowest recorded in any October going back to 2002.
Through the first 10 months of 2020, gulf shrimpers have harvested 58 million pounds of shrimp, 41 percent off of the historical average of 98.2 million pounds. It’s also 11.2 million pounds lower than the first 10 months of 2019, which was previously the lowest output since the SSA started tracking.
Market analysis from Urner Barry indicates that COVID-19 hastened a decline that has taken place in recent years.
“The obvious is the lack of incentive due to the diminished level of demand, but those that wanted to catch-and-process shrimp could not locate the labor needed,” the firm reported last week.
In October, Louisiana shrimpers collected just 2.7 million pounds, roughly half of what was harvested last year and 63.6 percent off the historical average. Like the entire gulf, Louisiana is on pace for its worst year as just 17.5 million pounds have been harvested. The average 10-month landings total dating back to 2002 is 46 million.
In Texas, the 3.6 million pounds harvested was the second-worst, ahead of only the 3.5 million pounds reported in October 2016. For the year, the 26.6 million pounds is on par with last year’s year-to-date total but 19.2 percent off the historical average.
Alabama reported 834,000 pounds, down 23 percent from the historical average. For the year, the 8.5 million pounds harvested is 4.4 percent down from its historical average.
Only 153,000 pounds were harvested on the Gulf Coast of Florida in October, the lowest amount reported since at least 2002 and 61 percent off the historical average. Through October, the 2.6 million pounds reported is down 48.9 percent from the historical average.
Mississippi shrimpers reported 300,000 pounds harvested in October. That was 44.9 percent off the historical average, and the 2.7 million pounds reported for the year is down 48 percent from the year-to-date historical average.
Photo courtesy of Dan Thornberg/Shutterstock
