Louisiana Seafood Facts

The following article includes statistics, facts, and other information about the Louisiana seafood industry.

Louisiana is the top producer of shrimp, oysters, blue crabs, crawfish, and alligator in the USA.

Other seafood includes dozens of species of fish ranging from mullet to tuna.

Jobs and Economic Impacts

The Louisiana seafood industry is a vital sector of the state’s economy.

One in 70 jobs in Louisiana is related to the seafood industry.

Seafood-related employment has an economic impact of over $2.4 billion annually for Louisiana.

The Louisiana shrimp industry accounts for 15,000 jobs and an annual impact of $1.3 billion.

The Louisiana commercial oyster industry accounts for almost 4,000 jobs with an economic impact of $317 million annually.

The Louisiana blue crab fishery accounts for more than 3,000 jobs with an annual economic impact of $293 million.

Louisiana has more than 1,000 crawfish farmers and more than 800 commercial fishermen who harvest wild crawfish.

Louisiana's combined harvest of crawfish totals 110 million pounds each year with an annual economic impact of $120 million.

The combined harvest of 313,000 wild and farmed Louisiana alligators generates a total annual economic impact of $104 million.

source: www.louisianaseafood.com

More Information

Louisiana Commercial Fishing

How to Cook Crawfish

Live Crawfish

To prepare live crawfish for the table, wash in cool, clean water. Discard any dead or non-responsive individuals. After washing, the crawfish can be blanched in boiling water for about five minutes.

Boiling cooks the meat, kills bacteria and turns the crawfish a brilliant red color. Crawfish can also be steamed, although the process takes longer than boiling.

Once cooked, crawfish may be served hot or cold. The meat is removed from the claws and tail and eaten as is or used in gumbo, etouffee, and other dishes.

Crawfish boils and festivals are a popular tradition in Louisiana and other southern states.

Louisiania Food Banks Seek Donations

The Louisiana Department of Social Services is encouraging Louisianians to donate canned and non-perishable food items to area food banks, who will help distribute the items to fishermen, families and others who find themselves in need.

"For many Louisiana citizens who earn their living from the Gulf and coastal waters, this tragedy comes at the worst time," said DSS Secretary Kristy Nichols. "Many fishermen, shrimpers and oystermen earn the bulk of their incomes during short seasons of the year and are unable to work because of the current situation."

To quickly respond to the needs of individuals and families along the coastline, DSS is partnering with Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana to collect and distribute goods to those in need. Second Harvest accepts donations of canned and non-perishable food at 700 Edwards Avenue in New Orleans.

Suggested food donations include:

    * peanut butter
    * soups / stews
    * canned fruits / vegetables
    * canned meats (chicken, beef, ham)
    * tuna fish
    * chili
    * cereal
    * hot cereals (grits, oatmeal)
    * beans
    * juice
    * rice
    * pasta
    * shelf stable milk

Additionally, Second Harvest accepts monetary donations. You can give securely on the Second Harvest website, no-hunger.org, by phone at (504) 729-2858, or by mail at Second Harvest Food Bank, Greater New Orleans & Acadiana, 700 Edwards Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70123.

Annually, Second Harvest feeds approximately 262,800 people across 23 south Louisiana parishes.

For more on the BP oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico disaster and ways to help, visit this BP Horizon Deepwater Oil Spill page.