Louisiana's shrimping industry still fighting to survive: 'Slow down the imports'

Once the pride of Louisiana’s economy and the cornerstone of its cuisine, the shrimping industry is fighting to survive.

Rising fuel costs, cheap imported shrimp and new industrial developments along the coast are threatening the livelihoods of fishermen who have supplied Louisiana tables for generations, said Acy Cooper, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association.

The shrimping industry brings in around $1.3 billion each year to the state’s economy, supports about 15,000 jobs statewide and provides 40% of the shrimp production in the U.S.

According to Louisiana Economic Development, the seafood industry contributes $2.4 billion annually to the state’s economy. A third of the Louisiana fisheries’ dockside value, which is the amount fishermen earn when selling to wholesalers, is from