One of the best ways shrimpers can cope with persistently low dockside prices is to sell directly to consumers, a new report from the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana says.
As The Courier reports, that suggestion is among the recommendations included in Louisiana Shrimp Value Chain: Price Dynamics, Challenges and Opportunities, released on Wednesday.
The group contracted with Datu Research to examine why prices are so low at the docks, where most shrimpers sell their catches, yet fetch a premium when sold at retail, leaving fishermen struggling to make ends meet.
According to the report, production of globally farmed shrimp increased 190% in the early 2000s. The influx of cheaper imported shrimp had a direct effect on Louisiana shrimpers as more than three-fourths of dockside price changes can be attributed to changes in import prices.
“The downward pressure of imported shrimp production is likely to continue to influence the dockside price of Louisiana shrimp,” a summary of the report says.
Environmental uncertainty—storms, climate change, habitat loss, coastal restoration efforts and oil spills—present additional challenges.
But there’s good news, the report says. High-end restaurants and consumers are willing to pay more for locally caught wild shrimp bought directly from a fisherman.
