Yesterday, NOAA issued landing volume data for shrimp caught in the Gulf of Mexico in the month of October.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance’s analysis of NOAA landings data reporting going back to 2002 indicates that the volume of shrimp harvested last month was well above historical averages and at near record levels.
For the entire Gulf of Mexico, the 18.2 million pounds of shrimp landed was 20.5% above the annual average of October shrimp landings between 2002 and 2013 (15.1 million pounds) and was surpassed only by the 18.6 million pounds of shrimp reported as landed in October 2006.
In Louisiana, the nearly 10 million pounds of shrimp landed was 26.2% above the annual average of October shrimp landings between 2002 and 2013 (7.9 million pounds) and was surpassed only by the 10.8 million pounds of shrimp reported landed in October 2004. For Alabama, the 1.7 million pounds of shrimp landed was 60.7% above the prior 12-year historic average (1.1 million pounds) and second only to the 1.9 million pounds of shrimp reported landed in October 2009. And in Texas, the 5.4 million pounds of shrimp landed was 4.7% above the prior 12-year historic average (5.2 million pounds).
However, even with the large volumes of shrimp landed in October, total landings in 2014 continue to be below average because of poor production in the first half of this year. For the entire Gulf, 93.5 million pounds of shrimp has been landed over the first ten months of this year – a volume figure that is 11.6% below the prior 12-year historic average (105.8 million pounds). This is the third straight year that the January to October landings volume has fallen below the prior year mark, declining from 102.4 million pounds in 2011 to 98.7 million pounds in 2012 then to 97.5 million pounds in 2013 and to 93.5 million pounds this year.
Production in Texas in 2014, equaling 26.2 million pounds, is 24.8% below the prior 12-year historic average (34.9 million pounds). Production in Louisiana, equal to 47.2 million pounds, is 5.9% below the prior 12-year historic average (51.8 million pounds).
However, in Alabama, the 10.8 million pounds of shrimp landed so far this year is a historic high and 38.1% above the 12-year historic average (7.8 million pounds).
While the landed shrimp volumes reported for October were reported to be at historically high levels, the ex-vessel prices reported by NOAA for October also were reported to be at historic levels. NOAA’s reporting of ex-vessel prices in the month of October going back to 2001 indicates that these prices are at all-time highs and have been trending upwards since 2009.
Please click the following link to view SSA’s compilation and summary of October 2014 Shrimp Landings and Ex-Vessel Prices: