SEAFOODNEWS.COM by Michael Ramsingh — November 19, 2014 — The Gulf of Mexico's shrimp catch last month proved to be the second highest of the year and was the largest for the month of October in 10 years. This catch data is more evidence that the late start the 2014 fishery delayed the landing pattern historically seen in the Gulf during this time of the season.
Fishermen hauled in 18.2 million pounds of shrimp in October, a 13 percent increase from last month and second largest monthly volume of the year next to the August catch.
October landings were the best for this month in over 10 years. Only October 2004 and October 2006 came close to this year's figure; it hasn't been since 2000, when the fishery produced over 19 million pounds, that landings were higher than October 2014.
Every Gulf state topped their monthly catch compared to the same time last year. Louisiana landed 9.9 million pounds, far ahead of second place Texas who posted 5.4 million pounds for the month.
We reported that the return of a white shrimp season to the Gulf largely helped boost landings last month and offset losses from delays to the season back in May. It was white shrimp again that carried this month's increase and further mitigated these losses according to industry participants.
On a YTD level the total Gulf catch is still four million pounds short of last year at 93.5 million pounds. A majority of Gulf shrimpers said it would be unlikely that late fourth quarter landings would be able to completely nullify the early season losses. As winter weather pushes into the region in November and December, the catch historically slows down.
However, with October's near-record landing total, there is more evidence that the Gulf landing pattern may be delayed from its historical trend. If that's the case this November, there remains a chance the Gulf could come all the way back, making for another wait and see approach as shrimpers wrap up fishing for the month.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.