Shrimp Imports and Vermilion Snapper

Punitive custom bonds or tariffs on imports of shrimp into the United States have proven to be no match for America’s insatiable appetite for shrimp. Some prognosticators originally believed the flow of shrimp into the U.S. would be slowed once the duties were imposed on exporting countries. This might have allowed domestic shrimp harvesters to capture some of the market demand.

However, shrimp imports for the first four months of 2006 showed an increase of 12.9 percent, or 41 million pounds, over the same period last year. This equates to an increase of more than 10 million pounds per month, which is equal to the amount of shrimp exported to the U.S. each month by Ecuador, the second leading shrimp supplier behind Thailand.

The total shrimp imports into the U.S. for the first four months of 2006 rose to 358 million pounds. The same time period for 2005 showed 317 million pounds. Nonetheless, this is bad news for domestic shrimp producers who are being squeezed by increasing volumes of cheap imports and rising fuel prices. Currently, domestic shrimp harvesters only produce about 10 percent of the U.S demand for shrimp. This makes it important for them to provide high quality products and to develop specialty, niche markets.

Source: seafoodnews.com

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Vermilion Snapper Rule Changes

The National Marine Fisheries Service has declared vermilion snapper (beeliners) to be over-fished, and the federal reef fish management plan includes measures to end over-fishing and rebuild the spawning stock over 10 years.

The commercial fishery for vermilion snapper will have a closed season from April 22 through May 31 each year. Both state and federal laws now specify that the minimum size for vermilion snapper for both recreational and commercial harvesters will increase from 10 to 11 inches.

Offshore anglers should be sure to note the changes in snapper regulations. Vermilion snapper are still part of a 20-fish per person aggregate bag limit for vermillion, lane, gray triggerfish, almaco jack, goldface tilefish, tilefish, blackline tilefish, anchor tilefish and blueline tilefish. However, not more than 10 vermilion snapper per person may be included in that bag limit.

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