Shrimper Jimmy Dupre of Delcambre talks about the advantages of selling directly to the public from his boat, the T-Turbo. The Port of Delcambre has posted a website that allows seafood consumers to contact fishermen to place orders for their catch. (Photo by Bruce Schultz)

News Release Distributed 05/28/10

DELCAMBRE, La. – A new program to link consumers with commercial fishers is under way at the Port of Delcambre.

Buyers can find out on the website, www.portofdelcambre.com, when a boat is headed to the dock with seafood.

In less than a month since the program has been running, more than 20 boats are registered on the website to sell their catch.

Tom Hymel, LSU AgCenter watershed specialist, said the arrangement allows buyers to get seafood at a good price in a custom order placed directly to a shrimper or crabber.

“You can call and place your order when he’s still on the water or before he goes,” Hymel said. “Already these guys are getting calls. This is allowing fishermen to do what they love and still make a living.”

To join the group and get listed on the website, fishers pay $250. They each get a profile page with a picture of their boat and a brief description of what they offer. Their phone numbers are listed for customers to call.

Port Commissioner Glenn Crappell said the program allows buyers to be sure they are getting a quality product. “You build a relationship with these guys,” he said.

The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico added urgency to getting the program under way, Hymel said.

“We were just getting ready to crank things up and then along came the oil spill,” he said.

Many shrimpers from the southeast part of the state have brought their boats west to continue working, Hymel said.

The port and the Louisiana Seafood Promotion Board are having a video made for nationwide distribution to get the word out that quality seafood is still available from the state.

Jimmie Dupre Sr. of Delcambre said the direct sales system is working well for him in selling his catch off his boat, the T-Turbo.

“I’ve been getting calls from all over,” he said. “I deal strictly with the public.”

Dupre, who has shrimped for 53 years, said if he runs out of shrimp, he refers callers to other shrimpers.

Selling to individuals takes more time, he said.

“I sold shrimp until 8 o’clock last night. I’ve still got 300 pounds for a friend of mine from Baton Rouge,” he said.

Dupre is waiting for state officials to open shrimping along the coast again. “Right now the water is clean and the shrimp are perfectly good,” he said.

Vermilion Bay is open, but it has few shrimp because of fresh water, he said.