U.S. Gulf Coast fishermen landed 5.8 million pounds (2,631 metric tons – MT) of shrimp in December 2016, approximately 34 percent below the 16-year historical average for the month (8.9 million pounds – 4,037 MT).
According to the latest statistics from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, for the year as a whole, the total catch amounted to 93.9 million pounds (42,952 MT), which was almost 28 percent below the 16-year average.
The average ex-vessel price per pound of 15/20 sized headless shrimp in December was USD 6.04 (EUR 5.65) in the Eastern Gulf, USD 5.76 (EUR 5.38) in the Northern Gulf and USD 5.96 (EUR 5.57) in the Western Gulf. For 41/50 sizes, prices stood at USD 2.60 (EUR 2.43) in the Eastern Gulf, USD 2.57 (EUR 2.40) in the Northern Gulf and USD 3.15 (EUR 2.94) in the Western Gulf.
With Gulf catches declining, the United States has been increasing the amount of shrimp that it imports. In November 2016, NOAA recorded imports of 135.9 million pounds (61,643 MT), up from 128.7 million pounds (58,377 MT) in the corresponding month of 2015.
In the first 11 months of 2016, U.S. shrimp imports increased to more than 1.2 billion pounds (544,311 MT), with peeled shrimp dominating the trade, followed by shell-on headless formats.
Americans’ per capita consumption of shrimp now amounts to 4 pounds (1.8 kg), making it the country’s favorite seafood ahead of salmon with 2.879 pounds (1.3 kg) per capita and tuna with 2.2 pounds (1 kg).
