Fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico landed just 6.7 million pounds (3,039 metric tons – MT) of shrimp last month, almost 45 percent lower than the 14-year historical average, confirmed the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
During the last 15 years, the only July to see less shrimp landed than last month was in 2010 when landings totaled 5.5 million pounds (2,495 MT).
The decline in landings is attributable to sharp drop-offs in the catches from Louisiana with 2.6 million pounds (1,179 MT) – 44.8 percent below the historical average, and Texas with 2 million pounds (907 MT) – 61.1 percent below the historical average. Indeed Texas’ total last month was the lowest recorded July shrimp volume for years.
For the year, 41.9 million pounds (19,006 MT) of shrimp have been landed in the Gulf of Mexico, an increase over landings in the first seven months of the previous two years, which were 40.4 million pounds (18,325 MT) and 40.5 million pounds (18,370 MT), respectively.
However, total landings for 2016 are 24.7 percent below the 14-year historical average. Despite the lower volumes, the average ex-vessel prices for most sizes were down last month compared to July 2015.
In the Western Gulf, for example, UN/15 count headless were down to USD 9.01 (EUR 8.07) per pound from USD 10.10 (EUR 9.04), 26/30s were down to USD 2.76 (EUR 2.47) per pound from USD 3.64 (EUR 3.26) and 41/50s fell to a record low of USD 1.20 (EUR 1.07) per pound last month.
