How Drought is Destroying the US Crawfish Sector
Over the past decade, crawfish (often known as crayfish outside the US) production in Louisiana and the surrounding region has grown to become, arguably, the second most valuable sector in US aquaculture behind only catfish. This low-input, environmentally sustainable industry is based on management practices that mimic natural hydrological and vegetative cycles. It is also, however, greatly influenced by the weather and when normal precipitation patterns are disrupted crawfish populations (and harvests) can be significantly impacted. This 2023- 2024 season is a sobering illustration of how severe those impacts can be.
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LSU AgCenter Mentor Helps Student Win Accolades With Innovative Catfish Experiment
Under the watchful eye of her mentor, Lily May carefully measured catfish fillets, powdered gelatin and water. May was preparing an experiment to test the effects of coatings on the omega-3 fatty acids in refrigerated catfish.
May’s mentor, Evelyn Watts, a seafood extension specialist with the LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant, has supervised graduate and undergraduate students conducting research in her lab, but May, a junior at St. Joseph’s Academy, was the first high school student Watts has worked with.
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Alternative Oyster Culture, A New Way Of Farming, Introduced in Cameron Parish
Oyster farmers in Cameron Parish are hopeful that a new initiative will further drive business.
Back in 2022, a grant was given to the Cameron Parish port to establish a new kind of oyster park located at the south end of Calcasieu Lake.
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Higgins Announces SBA Approval of Louisiana’s Disaster Request for Crawfish
Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) announced that the Small Business Administration (SBA) has approved Governor Landry’s drought disaster declaration request and extended the deadline for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications in response to the 2023 drought.
Congressman Higgins led a letter with members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation to the SBA Administrator, Isabel Guzman, in support of Governor Landry’s request earlier this week.
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Congresswoman Julia Letlow Questions US Agriculture Secretary Vilsack During FY2025 Budget Hearing
During the House Appropriations Committee FY2025 Department of Agriculture Budget Hearing, Congresswoman Julia Letlow (LA-05) questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and discussed the steps his Department is taking to provide assistance to our agriculture industry.
Congresswoman Letlow highlighted the challenges Louisiana farmers, ranchers, and producers are facing due to high temperatures and drought from 2023. Specifically, the Congresswoman urged Secretary Vilsack to use his authority and provide relief to the crawfish industry.
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Louisiana Crawfish Businesses Impacted by Drought Could Get Federal Assistance
Those in the crawfish industry in Louisiana and neighboring states who have been affected by last year's severe drought can apply for federal disaster loans to help with financial loss, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced on Thursday.
The federal approval for disaster funds comes after Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration at the beginning of the month amid a crawfish storage caused by drought and extreme heat.
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Crawfish Crisis: Louisiana Farmers Face Diminished Crawfish Production
Where peak season would typically find crawfish enthusiasts and producers alike elbow deep in the sinus-melting satisfaction of a good boil, Louisiana’s shellfish farmers have instead encountered a serious situation. When traps set during the fall revealed either no crawfish at all or a measly one or two instead of a bounty, hopes for a high-quality season were put on hold.
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Kennedy, Louisiana Delegation Urge SBA to Make Emergency Declaration for Crawfish Producers
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, joined members of the Louisiana congressional delegation in urging Small Business Association (SBA) Administrator Isabel Guzman to make a disaster declaration so that Louisiana’s crawfish processors, wholesalers, boilers and other related enterprises can receive emergency assistance.
In 2023, Louisiana’s adverse weather hurt the crawfish harvest. The lawmakers gave their support to Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry’s declaration request.
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Higgins Leads Louisiana Delegation Urging Small Business Administrator to Approve Disaster Request for Crawfish
Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) led members of the Louisiana Congressional Delegation on a letter to the U.S. Small Business Administrator, Isabel Guzman, in support of Governor Jeff Landry’s disaster declaration in response to 2023 drought conditions. The delegation urges the Small Business Administration (SBA) to approve Louisiana’s request and extend the deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) filing through the end of the crawfish season so that Louisiana businesses can have access to critical financial assistance.
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Crawfish Industry Counts Their Losses While Awaiting Federal Disaster Declaration
Normally, the weeks just before Easter mean peak business for crawfish harvesters, wholesalers and processors, with ample product and high demand. Instead, they’re waiting to see if the federal government will declare a disaster for their industry, which continues to weather the after-effects of last summer’s extended drought and a bad freeze earlier this year.
Losses for the Louisiana crawfish industry are estimated to reach nearly $140 million — more than half the typical annual yield, according to the LSU AgCenter.
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Rep. Troy Carter to Hold Workshops, Seminars for Crawfish Producers
Louisiana 2nd District Congressman Troy Carter will host 3 workshops for people involved in the crawfish industry affected by the lack of crawfish.
The first workshop is scheduled in New Orleans for Monday, March 18 from 9-11 a.m. at the Southern University at New Orleans College of Business Auditorium.
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Seafood Workers Can Get Low-interest Loans to Help with Dire LA Crawfish Season
Louisiana’s beleaguered crawfish industry will be getting help in the form of low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman announced Thursday.
The agency will issue low-interest loans for the crawfish industry, including farmers, harvesters, pickers, wholesalers, boilers, retailers, restaurants, grocery stores, equipment suppliers and others impacted by recent weather, said U.S. Rep. Troy Carter said in an interview.
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Editorial: Crawfish Farmers Deserve Federal Support
At this time of year, most Louisianans are used to gathering with family and friends to enjoy steaming trays of boiled crawfish. But this year, with the harvest devastated by drought, crawfish are hard to find and costly, putting a damper on our seasonal festivities.
While consumers lament the high prices, the impact on crawfish farmers is downright dire. The fallout from searing temperatures and dry weather in August is being felt in all parts of the state, producing fewer and smaller-than-usual mudbugs this year.
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Multiple Factors, Including Severe Drought, Result in Meager Crawfish Harvest and Higher Prices
Although Texas crawfish farmers emerged from a challenging growing season slightly better off than producers in Louisiana, 2024 is shaping up to be a dismal crawfish season for producers and consumers alike, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert.
Todd Sink, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the AgriLife Extension Aquatic Diagnostics Lab, Bryan-College Station, said that while both states dealt with severe drought and record-breaking temperatures, Louisiana, the nation’s top crawfish producer, also had to contend with the added impacts of disease and invasive species.
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Proposed Bill Could Help Crawfish Farmers
On February 29th, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy introduced the crawfish recovery assistance from weather disasters and droughts act. The CRAWDAD act would support Louisiana's crawfish jobs, providing farmers with federal aid in order to sustain their business during difficult conditions.
The bill would provide emergency livestock aid due to drought, something that is currently not in effect.
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