Gulf shrimpers want help from congress as fuel costs climb

Shrimpers along the Gulf face a cost crisis as fuel costs rise and imported shrimp flood markets. In Venice, Louisiana, Acy Cooper now pilots rented vessels to haul oil-rig workers after diesel jumped from about $3.50 to over $5 per gallon in spring, driven by geopolitical tensions. To break even, he must haul roughly a thousand pounds per trip, but a May cold front and coastal erosion have reduced marsh refuges and returns. Imported shrimp now accounts for more than 90% of U.S. consumption, the Gulf fleet's share fell to 4.5% in 2023, with dock prices under $2 per pound and Gulf revenue around $221 million.