Normally, the weeks just before Easter mean peak business for crawfish harvesters, wholesalers and processors, with ample product and high demand.
This year, they’re waiting to see if the federal government will declare a disaster for their industry, which continues to weather the after-effects of last summer’s extended drought and a bad freeze earlier this year, Louisiana Illuminator reports.
Losses for the Louisiana crawfish industry are estimated to reach nearly $140 million—more than half the typical annual yield, according to the LSU AgCenter.
A handful of distressed business owners attended a workshop that the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter hosted Monday morning at Southern University New Orleans to learn what help could be in the works. Jo Lawrence, the SBA deputy district director in New Orleans, could not say if or when a disaster declaration would be issued.
Carter and other members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation have pressed the Biden administration for a disaster declaration specific to the crawfish industry.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has already extended drought relief provided to aquaculture interests and other farmers. Those in the crawfish sector say they’ve never encountered conditions like they have this year—and could use a lifeline.
Tricia Benoit, who traveled from Abbeville for the workshop, says her business, D&T Seafood, is in line for USDA resources, but they won’t be enough to make up for the dropoff in crawfish production.
“This week last year, I would be buying anywhere from 1,000 to 1,200 sacks a day,” Benoit says. “[Now] I buy about 300 sacks a day.”
