Mississippi Shrimping
The business of shrimping on the Mississippi Gulf Coast use to be a family business where fathers, sons and even grandsons learned and practiced the trade. As one generation retired the boat and trade was passed on to the next generation. Today the cost of fuel, labor, restrictions and the dumping of foreign shrimp on US Markets have almost decimated these family owned businesses. Although the fresh water shrimp (Prawns) market is in the infant stage this may also represent a threat in future years. How can you help this struggling Mississippi industry? "Buy Mississippi Harvested Shrimp". Shrimping is a tough way to make a living" my Uncle D use to say. "You have to work when everyone else is sleeping and sleep when the rest of you are awake". Why didn't he just quit? "It's all I know", he would say. His wife would remark, " he complains but he loves every minute of it". You can bet that Uncle D was a favorite Uncle in the family especially when he had fresh shrimp to share. Uncle D, like a lot of his Shrimping peers, is no longer with us. However, their sons and daughters attempting to carry on the family business are facing a potentially disastrous season. A season, some have predicted, in which few independents may survive. Trawler fuel, maintenance expenses and labor costs are all on the increase. Add to that international competition glutting the market place driving the prices down and you have a recipe for a pending economic disaster. Traditionally the Mississippi shrimp season opens the first or second week in June. On Tuesday June 4th the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced that the shrimp count had reached the legal minimum size and the season would officially open at 6am on June 6, 2002. Having missed the opening day of the shrimp season for the last 3 years I was determined to be in the thick of it opening day. Several weeks prior I had made arrangements to be aboard a 24 footer aptly named "Thunder Child". Now this is not too small a boat for the Mississippi sound when the seas are in the 3-4 foot range but any rougher than that and you are sure to have an interesting ride. And interesting it was. But I am getting ahead of myself. To be Continued... For a great shrimp recipe click here
|
| Back | | Top of Page | | Next |