Despite being down about 5.5 percent from 2019, U.S. shrimpers in the South Atlantic still enjoyed a strong 2020 with a harvest of 21.9 million pounds of shrimp, according to data from the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA).
That total is roughly 1.2 million pounds down from the previous year, but is still 7.8 percent higher than the historical average dating back to 2000. According to the SSA’s data, 2020 was the fourth-best year for South Atlantic shrimp since 2004.
North Carolina was the region’s largest producer, with landings totaling 9.7 million pounds. That was up by about 200,000 pounds from 2019, and it was also 28.4 percent better than its historical average of 7.6 million pounds.
Fishermen on Florida’s east coast saw the largest year-to-year decline, dropping to 7.1 million pounds in 2020. That is 10.1 percent off its historical average, and more than 25 percent down from the state’s 2019 total of 8.9 million pounds.
Georgia reported 3.3 million pounds landed for 2020. That was up from 3.1 million in 2019 and represents a 31.4 percent increase from its historical average. The 2020 total was the best year for Georgia shrimpers since 2003, when they landed 3.5 million pounds.
South Carolina reported an increase for the second straight year. However, while the 1.8 million pounds collected were up about 300,000 pounds from the previous year, it’s still about 24.4 percent lower than its historical average of 2.3 million pounds.
For comparison purposes, shrimpers in the Gulf of Mexico reported a harvest 71.2 million pounds for 2020. That was a historic low for the region dating back at least 20 years. Louisiana also reported a 20-year low with 21.9 million pounds landed, while Texas saw its fourth-worst year in the last two decades, with 32.2 million pounds in landings.
Still, the SSA noted in a statement that the South Atlantic region remains an import one for the U.S. fishing industry, especially for the communities shrimpers and processers call home.
“Substantial quantities of fresh, wholesome, local, wild-caught shrimp are readily available to American consumers from shrimpers in each of these states,” the group said.
Photo courtesy of Irene Pearcey/Shutterstock
