The prediction covers the period from July 2012 through June 2013 for
state and federal waters off Louisiana and federal waters off Texas.
NOAA scientists make the annual prediction of brown shrimp catches based on
monitoring of juvenile brown shrimp abundance, growth estimates and environmental indicators.
They predict shrimp catches for state and federal waters off Louisiana from west of the
Mississippi River to the Texas-Louisiana border to be approximately 31.8 million pounds this
season. The Texas portion of the catch is predicted to be 27.4 million pounds.
Most of the shrimp harvested in the US 68 per cent comes from the Gulf of Mexico,
especially Texas and Louisiana. Total domestic shrimp harvest brought in $414 million in 2010,
the latest figures available.
"Brown shrimp are important to the economy of Gulf coast communities," said Roger
Zimmerman, Ph.D., director for NOAA Fisheries Southeast Fisheries Science Centers
Galveston Laboratory. "They are popular among seafood consumers and are used as bait by
recreational anglers, so hopefully well see plenty of brown shrimp available in seafood markets
and local bait shops this year."
Young brown shrimp begin entering estuaries in Texas and western Louisiana in mid-
February and continue through July, depending on environmental conditions. This year, three
environmental indicators warm air temperatures, more saline water in marshes, and strong
southerly winds that sustain tidal height increased favorable nursery area, thus allowing for
greater distribution of juvenile brown shrimp within estuaries.
Juvenile brown shrimp abundance and growth estimates are obtained by monitoring the
inshore commercial shrimp fisheries in Texas and the inshore and nearshore fisheries in
Louisiana. Data for these forecasts are obtained from NOAA Fisheries Galveston Laboratory,
NOAA port agents, NOAAs National Climatic Data and Weather centers, Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the commercial shrimp
industry.
Above Average Season for Harvest of Brown Shrimp Predicted
US - The commercial harvest of brown shrimp in the western Gulf of Mexico is expected to be 59.2 millionpounds, which is above the historical 50-year average of 56.5 million pounds, according toNOAAs annual forecast.
by Lucy Towers