Shrimping Season Finally Underway in Southwest Louisiana Zone

Marinas in Cameron Parish and all along the coastal waters of southwest Louisiana were humming with the noise of boat motors early Wednesday morning. That's because the shrimping season for southwest Louisiana was going to be underway as of 6 am.

As you might imagine many Louisiana shrimpers are heading out into the familiar waters of the Gulf of Mexico but very unfamiliar waters as far as how this season will go. Among the concern facing shrimpers as they begin the new season are the COVID-19 pandemic and of course, the price per pound.

Unfortunately for Bayou State shrimpers, the coronavirus pandemic will not likely have the same effect on shrimp prices that it has had on beef and pork. Prices for those commodities have risen during the pandemic as supply lines have been tightened because of the disease.

The price that shrimpers will get per pound will also be determined by last year's harvest. It seems that there was leftover inventory from last year's season that hasn't given shrimp prices the boost necessary for fishermen to really cash in.

The shrimp season usually lasts about a month or so. Right now it's brown shrimp season but those who know the business say when the white shrimp come it's an indicator that the season is about to be closed.

By the way, the season will run until it is terminated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.