Help
Available to Fight Imported Shrimp in the Marketplace
Posted:
1/25/05
Commercial
shrimpers and processors have been fighting the influx of
live and fresh frozen shrimp from abroad on state, regional,
and national levels. Recently, the Foreign Agricultural Service
has certified that increasing imports of frozen and fresh
whole shrimp contributed to a decline in the landed price
of shrimp in Louisiana during 2003 when compared to 1998-2002,
making some Louisiana shrimp producers eligible for training
and cash benefits in 2005.
In the
short term, Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU Agricultural Center
are providing a workshop to help shrimpers secure federal
financial assistance and in-state training to compensate for
losses in 2003 and 2004, and a Web site to make available
information and training materials to prevent future losses.
In the long term, university scientists, shrimpers, processors,
and regulators together are developing a certification program
to ensure that the quality of Gulf of Mexico fresh frozen
shrimp is so high that it captures and holds the top position
on the world market.
Financial
assistance and training
A workshop in Louisiana describing TAA benefits will be at
the Belle Chasse Auditorium (8398 Belle Chasse Hwy./ Hwy.
23 near the Belle Chasse ferry landing) on Thursday, January
27, 2005, at 9 a.m. for shrimpers who might be eligible for
government payments and training. The workshop provides information
on who is eligible and how they can receive these benefits.
A similar workshop was held January 19th at the Cameron Parish
Police Jury Annex.
Shrimpers
can apply for TAA benefits between January 10 and April 11,
2005, at a local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. Offices
in Louisiana are located in Franklinton, 985/839-5687, Edgard,
985/497-3311, Thibodaux, 985/446-6226, Franklin, 337/828-0493,
New Iberia, 337/369-3234, St. Martinville, 337/332-2811, Abbeville,
337/893-5781, and Lake Charles, 337/436-5020.
Program
to prevent future losses
Louisiana Sea Grant and the LSU Agricultural Center have begun
to work with shrimpers and processors to develop a shrimp
product certification program. Details about the development
of this program, and copies of the training materials are
now available online at http://www.seagrantfish.lsu.edu/management/LAshrimp.htm
Development
of the certification program includes interviews with individual
fishermen and processors, meetings with industry associations,
visits to processing plants and buying docks, and fishing
trips on board shrimp vessels. The program is also using information
about shrimp markets and product forms, critical quality attributes,
and individual handling processes to devise safe, practical
catch, handling and preserving methods that ensure top quality
product.
For more
information, contact:
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