Gulf Shrimp Supply Could be Restored by End of Year

Gulf shrimp supply could be restored by the end of year as the Texas shrimp industry rebounds from Hurricane Harvey, according to sector representatives.

The Texas Gulf Coast is home to one of the country's largest shrimp industries, landing more than $100 million in revenue each year. But the hurricane, which made landfall on August 25 as a Category 4 storm, inflicted major damage to boats and docks and left fisheries closed for weeks.

However, things are starting to look up. Some boats have returned to the water and are catching healthy shrimp. The Port Aransas Pier reopened over Labor Day weekend, and more fishing piers are expected to open in the coming weeks.

"We're looking at a rebound by the end of this year, early next year, for sure," Lynn Lindsey, executive director of the Texas Shrimp Association, told SeafoodSource. "It will not be back to where it was before Harvey hit but it will be much improved from where we are now. There is still some damage that has yet to be repaired but things are definitely getting better."

The industry has been working with state and federal officials to get fisheries reopened as quickly as possible. While most closures remain in place, some areas have been reopened in recent weeks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (TPWC) recently approved a limited reopen for brown and white shrimp in Galveston Bay east of the Houston Ship Channel. The season opened on September 28 and runs through November 9 or until a harvest quota of 350 pounds is reached.

TPWC also approved a partial reopen for black drum, redfish, and flounder in select areas of Matagorda Bay. That fishery opened on October 12 and runs through November 30 or until a harvest quota of 800 pounds is reached for each species. And on October 20, TPWC approved a limited reopen for spotted seatrout in Lake Jackson at selected locations inside the city limits of Lake Jackson only – meaning there is no curfew time associated with this fishery opening..

U.S. Seafood Producers Eyeing Huge Mexican Shrimp Crop

U.S. seafood producers are eyeing a bumper crop of Mexican shrimp this year, thanks to a favourable tariff ruling by the Trump administration.

The ruling allows Mexican shrimp to be exported to the U.S. at a reduced tariff rate, undercutting competitors from countries such as Thailand and Vietnam.

The lower tariff is seen as a major victory for Mexico's $1 billion a year shrimp industry, which has been struggling in the face of stiff competition from Asian rivals.

"This is great news for us," said Luis Armando Hernandez, president of the Campeche Shrimp Producers Association. "It will help us expand our market share in the United States."

Mexican shrimp accounts for only 2 percent of the U.S. market, but industry officials expect that to grow significantly in light of the tariff ruling.

Some observers are predicting that Mexico could eventually emerge as the top supplier of shrimp to the U.S., overtaking longtime leaders such as Thailand and Vietnam.

"The Mexicans have really come on strong in terms of quality and price," said Ali Jahangiri, president of J Fresh Seafoods, a major seafood distributor in Los Angeles. "We're definitely going to start buying more Mexican shrimp."

Cheap Shrimp from China Threatens Domestic Industry

Shrimp is a shellfish that can be eaten cooked, chilled, or frozen. It is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world and is also high in protein. In the United States, shrimp is the most popular seafood item. Americans consume an average of four pounds of shrimp per person per year.

China is the largest producer and exporter of shrimp in the world. Chinese shrimp is considered low-cost and low-quality by many consumers and retailers. As a result, much of the Chinese shrimp winds up being exported to other countries, including the United States.

The influx of Chinese shrimp has caused prices for domestic shrimp to drop significantly. This has resulted in layoffs and plant closings in the domestic shrimp industry. The industry currently employs thousands of people and contributes millions of dollars to the American economy.

Some lawmakers are calling for tariffs on Chinese shrimp in order to protect the domestic industry. They argue that this would help to level the playing field and revive the American shrimp industry. Others believe that such tariffs would only lead to retaliation from China and would do more harm than good.

The future of the American shrimp industry remains to be seen.

Record-Breaking Shrimp Prices Leads to Increased Consumption

In the United States, shrimp is the most popular seafood item. Annual per capita consumption of shrimp has increased in recent years as prices have declined. This is primarily due to a record-breaking year for shrimp prices. Shrimp prices reached an all-time high in 2016, which led to a significant increase in demand. U.S. consumers bought over 4 billion pounds of shrimp in 2016, up from 3.8 billion pounds the year before. This increase in demand has caused the average price of shrimp to decline by more than 10 percent since its peak in 2016.

The rise in shrimp prices is primarily due to a decline in global supply. Overfishing and disease have caused a decline in wild shrimp populations, while production from farms has been hampered by bad weather and flooding. These factors have driven up the price of farmed shrimp, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of the global supply.

The high price of shrimp has led some U.S. consumers to switch to other types of seafood. But, for the most part, they have continued to purchase shrimp at the same rate. This is likely because shrimp is still a relatively affordable option compared to other types of seafood. In fact, according to research from the National Fisheries Institute, U.S. households spent an average of $1,996 on seafood in 2016, down from $2,023 the year before.

The rise in prices has also affected those who work in the seafood industry. Fishermen and processors have seen their profits decline as a result of the higher prices. Some processors have even been forced to close their plants due to the lack of affordable raw material.

Despite these challenges, the seafood industry is optimistic that prices will eventually stabilize and begin to decline again. This would allow fishermen and processors to earn a higher profit margin on each pound of shrimp they sell, which would help them recover from the current market conditions

Demand for Sustainable Shrimp Grows

The global demand for sustainable shrimp is growing rapidly, as consumers become more aware of the importance of sustainability in the seafood industry. In response, many commercial shrimp farms are beginning to adopt more environmentally friendly practices, such as using less antibiotics and reducing their reliance on wild-caught fish as feed.

One of the biggest challenges facing the shrimp farming industry is the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to treat sick shrimp, but they can also contaminate the water and soil around the farm. This can create problems for both people and the environment.

Thankfully, there are now a number of commercially viable alternatives to antibiotics that shrimp farmers can use to keep their stocks healthy. These alternatives include probiotics, organic acids, and extracts from plant-based sources.

Another issue facing shrimp farmers is their reliance on wild-caught fish as feed. This can put a lot of pressure on wild stocks, which can lead to overfishing. In response, some shrimp farmers are starting to experiment with alternatives to fishmeal, such as insects, algae, and kelp.

The growth in demand for sustainable shrimp is good news for the environment and for our oceans. It's also good news for the people who depend on the shrimp farming industry for their livelihoods. By switching to more environmentally friendly practices, we can help ensure that this important industry remains viable long into the future.