A slimy pest is plaguing Louisiana - causing utter destruction for crawfish and rice harvesters.
The apple snail, native to South America, is an invasive species that carries a parasite called rat lungworm, which can be fatal to humans and devastating to crops.
Read MoreLouisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) issued a disaster declaration for the crawfish industry Wednesday, according to a press release.
Read MoreI had my first platter of boiled crawfish for the 2026 season last week, and it was well worth the wait.
Crawfish Time on Ridge Road in Lafayette was bustling the week before Mardi Gras, with crowds in the restaurant and drive-thru focused on one thing: putting away 3 or 5 pounds of succulent, tender crawfish and fixings.
Read MoreA wave of freezing temperatures sweeping across the United States has slowed crawfish harvesting in South Louisiana, creating short-term supply delays and higher market prices for the state’s $300 million industry.
Read MoreAgents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries used an aerial drone to spot an individual illegally harvesting hundreds of pounds of oysters in February.
Read MoreHot, spicy boiled shrimp straight from the pot is a popular item at Today's Ketch Seafood in Chalmette. Owner Jeff Pohlmann says in the restaurant's 41 years, they've only served seafood caught in Louisiana.
Read MoreLouisiana law requires restaurants to clearly indicate when they serve imported seafood, but hundreds have failed to do so, according to a review of state enforcement data from 2025.
Read MoreCongressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) wrote a letter to President Donald Trump and senior cabinet officials advocating for enhanced protections of the domestic shrimp industry after the framework of the new trade agreement between the U.S. and India included lower tariffs on Indian seafood.
Read MoreJosh Courville has harvested crawfish his whole life, but these days, he’s finding a less welcome catch in some of the fields he manages in southern Louisiana. Snails. Big ones.
Read MoreFarmers in Louisiana and Texas are facing growing threats from invasive species that are damaging rice fields and disrupting crawfish harvests, raising concerns for two industries that are closely linked and economically significant in the southern United States.
Read MoreFrom crawfish to vegetables, Louisiana farmers say much of our food and produce relies on migrant labor.
That has some in the agriculture industry calling for pathways so migrant workers can gain permanent legal status in the United States, not just temporary work visas. We visited three Louisiana farms to find out why.
Read MoreRep. Clay Higgins, who represents parts of St. Mary Parish, has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to begin purchasing wild-caught Gulf shrimp, large portions of which come from Louisiana's coast.
Read MoreThe federal government has temporarily increased the number of H-2B non-immigrant visas that will be awarded in 2026, a provision that Rep. Julia Letlow says will benefit Louisiana crawfish farmers.
Read MoreThe red swamp crayfish of Louisiana doesn't seem threatening at first glance. It measures on average between 5 and 12 centimeters, lives at the bottom of rivers, lagoons and canals, and resembles a common crustacean. But this North American species has become one of the... the most destructive aquatic invasive species on the planet, capable of reshaping entire ecosystems in just a few years, wiping out native populations, and spreading a virtually lethal disease to other crustaceans.
Read MoreMany Louisiana restaurants are reopening for crawfish season following a weekend of freezing temperatures and an ice storm that temporarily halted operations. Owners of Crawfish City say they are optimistic about the season’s outlook despite the recent weather challenges.
Read More
