Cooperation within Shrimp Industry Needed for a More Prosperous Future

Collaboration and cooperation are paramount for achieving positive outcomes for the United States’ domestic shrimp industry, attendees of the Southeast Shrimp Strategy and Planning Meeting concluded. While progress has been made in the last year – such as labeling laws in Texas, Mississippi and Alabama – the report highlights more work is still necessary.

Sixty-one representatives from all eight warm-water shrimp harvesting states in the Southeast – from North Carolina to Texas – participated in the April 2024 meeting. Attendees included harvesters, docks, processors, seafood buyers, state and federal agencies, as well as Sea Grant and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission staff.
“It was extremely important to get together this diverse group of individuals so that we could share ideas to find solutions for our current and future problems,” said one workshop participant.

“Overall, the meeting underscored the necessity for a comprehensive approach that addresses various challenges – including economic hardships, market dynamics, regulatory issues and sustainability concerns – faced by the shrimp industry,” said Julie Lively, Louisiana Sea Grant executive director. “By collaborating effectively, the industry can forge a more sustainable and prosperous future.”

Over the two-day meeting, key sessions covered topics such as United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, shrimp marketing strategies, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) initiatives, legal and policy updates and USDA food assistance programs. “Those in attendance were encouraged to disseminate summaries of the meeting back to their local communities and state representatives, and continue developing action plans,” said Laura Picariello, Texas Sea Grant interim director.

A 24-page summary of the meeting can be found at www.laseagrant.org/outreach/projects/southeast-shrimp-meeting-2024. The meeting was supported with rapid response funds from the National Sea Grant Office. For more information, contact Julie Lively at (225) 578-6710.