October 13, 2006

Wild-caught shrimp makes a comeback in US southern states

Certified wild-caught Mississippi shrimp is making a comeback in several southern states in the US, thanks to the media and marketing from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' seafood marketing programme.

In one of its major victories, the wild-caught shrimp industry in August managed to persuade Wal-mart to sell only certified American shrimp at its seafood counters in 300 locations in Florida, Alabama and Texas. Other supermarket chains are also running pilot programmes to see if there is a demand for American shrimp.

About 200 million pounds of wild shrimp are caught from American waters every year, according to Wild American Shrimp, Inc (WASI), making up about 20 percent of US demand.

The wild-caught shrimp business in the US have been declining for years as many shrimp fisherman have gone bust as high fuel costs and cheaper shrimp from Asian imports combined to drive them out of business.

However, thanks to favourable coverage from magazines like Southern Living, which has a national circulation, interest in US wild-caught shrimp is catching on, said Richard Gollott, the owner of certified Golden Gulf Coast Packaging Co.

Golden Gulf is one of three seafood suppliers on the Gulf Coast certified by WASI.

Surveys showed that most consumers mistakenly think they are eating domestic shrimp, but they are not, said Eddie Gordon, WASI's director, adding that wild shrimp taste better and are cleaner than farmed ones.