Low shrimp prices make tough year

BILOXI - Mississippi fishermen remain intent on harvesting this year’s shrimp crop in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico despite low prices and a season that was paused and restarted. Dave Burrage, Mississippi State University Extension professor of marine resources at the Coastal Research and Extension Center, said the season first opened June 3 and then closed June 19 when shrimp were too small; and re-opened July 13. The season has been “an anomaly so far,” he said. Shrimpers landed 630,000 pounds of shrimp in Biloxi area during the first two weeks of this season compared to 760,000 pounds a year ago. The size of shrimp has been similar, but prices (for an average 41-50 count per pound) have plummeted from around $3 per pound to 95 cents per pound this year, Burrage said. Fisheries imports have had a significant impact on price. (Source: Mississippi Business Journal 08/03/15)