>>Fishermen's Voice Monthly Newspaper, Gouldsboro Maine

Members of the Louisiana Shrimpers Association demonstrated in Washington, D.C. on April 27. They were calling attention to the need for the inclusion of funding for fishing communities to rebuild, in the supplemental spending bill that is now before the senate. Rebuilding includes attention paid to the impact on domestic markets flooded with cheap imported shrimp. Photo: Niaz Dorry

Wearing T-shirts with the message “Friends Don’t Let Friends Eat Imported Shrimp,” a group of Louisiana shrimpers gave away 1,000 pounds of shrimp in Washington, D.C.’s popular Dupont Circle on Monday, April 24. Their message: in order to rebuild their communities after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the current supplemental spending bill being debated in the Senate needs to include funds to help the Gulf fishing communities rebuild their lives. An earlier version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives allocated no monies for the Gulf’s fishermen.

In addition, they wanted to voice their concerns about the importation of farmed-raise shrimp, which is flooding the market and lowering prices for wild-caught shrimp, putting fishermen at a competitive disadvantage at a crucial time and introducing an inferior product to the consumer.

Captain Charles Robin, III, a fifth generation shrimper from St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana drove to D.C. with a truck full of shrimp, his wife Lisa, son Gabe, and mother Cecile. Charles began fishing with his dad and his mother on the F/V Ellie Margaret when he was 11, and eventually inherited the boat from his father. The Ellie Margaret housed many in the protected bayous following Katrina, but was damaged during Rita.

Captain George Barisich, President of the United Commercial Fishermen’s Association and board member of the St. Bernard Chapter of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, joined the Robins.

After giving away shrimp to the public, the Louisiana visitors met with House and Senate staff as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to “make them understand the importance of the passage of this bill,” said Barisich.

“If we don’t get this bill passed and no storm recovery monies are appropriated for our rebuilding and survival, we’re gone,” said Barisich. “I’m a shrimper. I’m living on $98/week unemployment, which will run out on June 1st. I don’t want to work for Home Depot or Wal-Mart.”

Helping to organize their trip was Food & Water Watch, whose mission is to “challenge the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources by empowering people to take action and by transforming the public consciousness about what we eat and drink.”

Demonstrators in support of the Louisiana Shrimpers Association line up for free shrimp provided by the Association at the Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. Fishing communities in Louisiana were the first hit and apparently the last helped. Photo: Niaz Dorry

“Shrimp is the most popular seafood choice in the U.S., but many consumers are eating shrimp that have been farm-raised in countries such as Vietnam or China,” said Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch. “Next time you go to a restaurant and order shrimp, urge them to buy shrimp from domestic sources. It’s a good way to support our domestic fishing communities.”

In addition to lobbying on the Hill, the fishermen are also looking for donations from fishing communities.

“People in fisheries around the country have stuff piled up. We need radars, plotters, VHF radios, computers, and fax machines— whatever they are not using anymore—especially electronics. All working stuff — nothing broken, please!” said Barisich. “We put all those in the house thinking we were saving them. The boats made it, but the houses didn’t.”

To donate equipment to Gulf fishermen recovering from the hurricanes, please contact:
Captain George Barisich
United Commercial Fishermen’s Association
940 Stanford Avenue, Apt 405
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
Tel. # 225-769-4059
E-mail: nonetsnoseafood@aol.com