Future looks grim for local shrimpers

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. - Typically, shrimp boat captains would be heading out to drag their nets along the bottom of Mobile Bay. Monday morning, most of the boats were docked.

Terry Johnson, a shrimp boat captain, said they are cutting trips short to save money.

"We decided to come in because we had a little ice and fuel and we want to make that opening in that part of the bay. We had a halfway decent day, about an 18 box day. We made a few dollars but not enough to keep going."

Johnson said he is only getting paid about 60 cents per pound of shrimp. About ten years ago, he was paid seven to eight dollars for every pound of shrimp. In current conditions, it is not even worth going out.

"We've got boats, everybody's tied up because they can't do it anymore. I mean it don't take Einstein to figure out if you don't make enough money to go you can't keep going."

Johnson said restaurants are buying imported shrimp instead of local, fresh Gulf shrimp. He blames the low pay out on foreign products.

"In my book, the shrimping industry is gone. I mean I don't see how you are going to come out of it. There's no way you are going to come out of it unless they stop importing shrimp, stop buying factory frozen shrimp, and they buy iced shrimp, fresh shrimp."

Johnson said if local shrimpers don't get help soon, the situation might be even worse. "We'll just tie up and quit shrimpring, that's all we can do."