NEWSROOM
Live
Bait Market Possible Venue for Commercial Shrimpers, Fishermen
June 29, 2005
BATON ROUGE –
Some Louisiana inshore shrimpers and fishermen squeezed by current
economic conditions are increasing their profits by marketing
some of their catch as live bait to recreational anglers, according
to a recent survey by Louisiana Sea Grant.
“With present
conditions dictating low profitability, it is inevitable that
some fishermen and shrimpers will use their hard-won fishing experience
to provide a value-added aspect to their catch – live bait,”
said Rex Caffey, associate professor for wetlands and coastal
resources at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center
and Louisiana Sea Grant.
The survey found shrimp,
croakers and cocahoe minnows to be the most popular live baits
with the state’s recreational fishermen. Survey respondents
indicated they are willing to pay up to four times the market
value of some baits – specifically croakers – in order
to guarantee a successful fishing trip. Caffey refers to this
as “trip insurance.”
“Maximum prices
went as high as $1 per bait for croakers,” said Caffey.
“Apparently, these bait fish have a reputation that precedes
them in the fishermen’s world.”
Only 4 percent of survey
respondents said bait price was a significant limiting factor
when it comes to their fishing excursions. “You just got
up at 3:39 a.m., invested $200 in supplies and fuel, made excuses
all week to get to fish … who cares what the bait cost as
long as you don’t have to go home empty-handed,” said
Rusty Gaude, Louisiana Sea Grant fisheries agent. “This
triggers the idea that at 5 a.m., on the edge of civilization
at your bait retailer’s store, the cost of the bait is relatively
unimportant compared to its availability.”
Although earmarking
part of the commercial catch for live bait can be profitable,
shrimpers and fishermen need to put in additional effort to ensure
their product remains alive.
“Many seafood
harvesters are not accustomed to walking the fine line between
their catch being live bait or frozen seafood,” said Caffey.
“Not only does the live bait have to make it to the onshore
holding facility, endure the transfer from several containers
to the final bait well, but the individual baits must appear lively
not only to the angler but – ultimately – the angler’s
prey.”
Care and holding of
live bait was noted as a major concern by survey respondents.
The survey was part
of a national Sea Grant initiative to guide research and extension
programming for the coastal bait industry in the northern Gulf
of Mexico. Previously, no definitive survey of the Louisiana coastal
bait industry had been conducted. The 500 survey respondents included
individuals from the supply side of the live bait industry, as
well as recreational fishermen. Surveys were conducted face-to-face
and online.
Seventy-five percent
of the anglers surveyed fish in marsh and coastal areas, and most
of their fishing activity takes place between the beginning of
May and the end of September.
The live bait sector
in Louisiana is a $40 million business, according to the National
Marine Fisheries Service. Louisiana Sea Grant continues to support
the coastal bait industry with programs and publications geared
to helping all aspects of the industry.
Since its establishment
in 1968, Louisiana Sea Grant has worked to promote stewardship
of the state’s coastal resources through a combination of
research, education and outreach programs critical to the cultural,
economic and environmental health of Louisiana’s coastal
zone. Louisiana Sea Grant, based at Louisiana State University,
is part of the National Sea Grant Program, a network of 30 programs
in each of the U.S. coastal and Great Lakes states and Puerto
Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands.
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