American shrimpers have captured the highest volume of shrimp landings in the Gulf of Mexico since 2006, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
NOAA’s May report showed that so far in 2017, more shrimp has been landed by commercial fishermen operating in the gulf than any year since 2006. So far, they have harvested 30.3 million pounds of shrimp this year, up from 23.6 million pounds last year and about 19 percent over the 15-year historical average of 25.5 million points. The volume of shrimp landed is the highest total reported since they landed 35.2 million pounds of shrimp in the first five months of 2006, according to the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
Of this year’s current total, 4.7 million pounds of shrimp have been landed in Alabama, a record volume over the 16-year historical period tracked by the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Likewise, Mississippi shrimp fishermen also have done well this year, with their 1.3 million pounds of shrimp landed being the most reported for that state for the same time period since 2004. On the west coast of Florida, shrimp fishermen have caught 3.7 million pounds of shrimp, the most reported for that area 2006; in Texas, fishermen have caught 7.9 million pounds of shrimp, the most reported for that state since 2011; and the 12.8 million pounds landed in Louisiana is the most reported for that state since 2013.
Despite higher catch volumes, dockside prices have also risen, according to NOAA’s report. Prices for 26-30 count shrimp were at USD 3.98 (EUR 3.50) per pound in the Northern Gulf region, while ex-vessel prices reported for 41-50 count shrimp have reached USD 2.25 (EUR 1.98) per pound.
