Blue crab. Photo by Frankie Gould News Release Distributed 03/25/15
DELCAMBRE, La. – Shrimpers and crabbers learned about the newest regulations, techniques and equipment at a Louisiana Fisheries Forward meeting on March 24, organized by the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant.
Thu Bui, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant fisheries agent, said the meetings are intended to help fishers learn about new developments before their peak seasons get underway soon.
“It makes them more professional and gives them the information so they can become more profitable,” she said. “Once they get on the water, they don’t have time to learn about new things.”
Failing to learn about new regulations could result in hefty fines, she said, and the sessions provide that service.
Julie Anderson Lively, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant fisheries specialist, said shrimp prices have decreased slightly from last year. “But they are still much higher than they have been in previous years.”
She said fewer imports have helped boost prices. A disease, early mortality syndrome, resulted in drastic decreases in farmed shrimp across Southeast Asia.
Thailand was the No. 1 shrimp exporter, she said, but now India has taken over the lead.
Another disease, running mortality syndrome, now affects Southeast Asian farm shrimp by stunting their growth, Lively said.
The U.S. refuses to allow shrimp imports with any traces of antibiotics that can be used to treat the diseases, she said, and that ban resulted in more than 200 rejected shipments last year, and the amount of rejections so far this year is on pace to exceed that amount.
Lively also said preliminary research of the invasive species tiger shrimp appears to indicate that it is not a big threat to white and brown shrimp.
Mark Shirley, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant fisheries agent, said products Everfresh and Prawnfresh are good substitutes for sulfites. Shirley explained the chemicals all prevent the condition called black spot, which is an enzyme reaction in a shrimp’s body after it dies. The darkening tissue is not an indication of anything wrong with the shrimp, but consumers find it unappealing.
Shirley said sulfites are effective up to five days after a catch, but Everfresh and Prawnfresh can last as long as 14 days.
Some shrimp buyers refuse sulfite-treated shrimp because some people are allergic to the chemical, he said, so some wholesale buyers prefer sulfite-free shrimp.
Thomas Hymel, LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant agent, said shrimp quality is becoming more important. He said filling bags with too many shrimp prevents rapid freezing, and shrimp in the middle of overstuffed bags become damaged. “This is the biggest issue we have with the offshore shrimp.”
He said bags should be filled with 45 to 60 pounds of shrimp. Texas shrimpers follow that guideline, he said. “They are the premium shrimp, and they are getting top dollar,” he said.
Shrimper Jimmy Dupree of Delcambre said he uses a new chilled water system to keep his shrimp fresher than using just ice. He usually sells all his shrimp within a few days but can preserve their quality for as much as a week in the near freezing water. He said his bill for ice is considerably less.
Lauren Land, sustainability coordinator with Louisiana Sea Grant, said preliminary work is underway to secure public emergency berths for commercial fishing boats to be used when a storm approaches. She said Palmetto Island State Park and the Port of Delcambre are being considered as possible sites.
A new storm harbor has been established for Golden Meadow, she said, and discussions are in progress for a similar site in Lafitte.
“We’re still trying to figure out where to go in St. Mary Parish,” Shirley said.
Land also said Louisiana Sea Grant is developing a smartphone app for mariners with maps, weather forecasts and services along the Louisiana coast.
Harry March of the U.S. Coast Guard said three new requirements will go into effect for many offshore boats. He said safety inspections will be required after Oct. 15 for all boats operating in the Gulf of Mexico. The inspections are provided to the fishers at no charge.
After March 1, 2016, automatic identification systems will be required for boats longer than 65 feet that will enable satellite tracking by the Coast Guard, March said. More stringent life raft regulations will be required on any boats working more than 3 miles offshore.
At the session for crabbers, details of a study by the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant on new artificial crab baits were provided, and crabbers were asked to help in the continuation of the study.
Also, a new training program for crabbers by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries was explained. To get a new crabbing license, an applicant will have to work with a mentor to learn rules and regulations or be sponsored by an existing licensed holder.
Additional Louisiana Fisheries Forward meetings will be held April 7 in Dulac and April 22 in Larose. For more information, contact Alan Matherne at AMatherne@agcenter.lsu.edu or 985-873-6495. More details for these meetings can be found online at http://lafisheriesforward.org/.
Bruce Schultz