Why you may be paying more for crawfish this summer season
Gov. Landry said that the crawfish industry brings in $300 million to the state annually, but this year, the harvest could only bring in around $140 million.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a disaster declaration Wednesday after extreme weather over the last several months has “devastated” the state’s crawfish harvest.
The crawfish industry is critical to Louisiana’s economy, as they are the top producer of the “mudbugs”, and the recent shortage of them has triggered a move on the federal level. In a statement made Wednesday, the governor said that the crawfish industry brings in $300 million to the state annually, but this year, the harvest could only bring in around $140 million.
The reason why is the extreme weather swings the state has seen lately. Last year, the Bayou State dealt with a significant drought, extreme heat, saltwater intrusion on the Mississippi River and a hard winter freeze. 2023 was the warmest year on record for Louisiana, with 75% of the state reaching exceptional drought — the highest in the nearly 25-year history of the drought monitor data. Louisiana is typically one of the wettest states in the country, but with the dry conditions, the weather dried out the soil where crawfish burrow to lay eggs.
All of this has also led to a costly price increase for consumers who want to buy crawfish. Consumers were hit with large price hikes during the famous Mardi Gras celebrations in February-- an event that attracts thousands to New Orleans, Louisiana every year to enjoy crawfish as a staple food in the celebration. It has also affected businesses that sell seafood to Louisiana Catholics during the Lent season when those of the religion seek fish and seafood as alternatives to meat during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday.
Around this time last year, the cost of a pound of boiled crawfish was between $3 to $5. Now, restaurants across the state are selling them for $10 to $12 per pound, as reported by The Advocate.
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