BROWNSVILLE, Texas (RFD NEWS) — Texas Gulf shrimping remains one of the most important aquaculture and fishing industries along the state’s coastline, but those in the business say it comes with significant challenges. At the Port of Brownsville, shrimpers are facing rising operating costs and increased competition, even as some remain optimistic about the industry’s future.
“It’s very costly to fill up a boat to take it out into the ocean to shrimp for 30 days,” said Janie Lopez. “That can cost as much as $40,000 just for one fill-up. Now take that into consideration. And every two years there has to be maintenance on these boats, which costs another $45,000.”
In addition to high fuel and maintenance expenses, shrimpers are also competing with lower-priced foreign imports.
“You have the issue of competing with foreign shrimp, which is made cheaper because they grow it in farms and they don’t have to go out and catch it in the ocean,” Lopez said. “And so we’re competing with those low prices.”
Despite those pressures, some shrimpers say business remains strong.
One shrimper, Eric, told RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey: “It is good business with lots of shrimp and lots of money.”
Still, the job itself presents ongoing challenges, including labor shortages and difficult working conditions.
“Our shrimpers need a certain amount of staff per boat, and they don’t have enough workers,” Lopez said. “It’s a very rough job, very dangerous. You go out into the ocean for 30 days, and if you don’t like it, then you want to quit and come back home. And it’s difficult to be able to just come back to drop off someone.”
Shrimpers say adapting to those conditions is part of the job.
“But you get used to everything you see out at sea,” Eric said.
Fuel prices remain a key concern for those operating along the Gulf, with many watching closely to see how costs will impact their bottom line moving forward. Even so, some in the industry remain confident in its outlook, citing continued demand and distribution nationwide.
Looking ahead, Lopez says collaboration could be important as new development comes to the region, including a planned oil refinery at the Port of Brownsville.
“There definitely needs to be some conversations between the fishing industry, the shrimp industry, and then the refinery and company that’s going to build there, so that they can know how they can work together,” she said.
Lopez adds that government support and visa programs could help strengthen the workforce and bolster the industry’s long-term future. She also notes that Texas now requires shrimp sold in stores to be labeled as either wild-caught or imported, giving consumers more transparency when making purchasing decisions.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD NEWS.
