The Louisiana seafood industry struggles to maintain business after hurricane Isaac hit the state on the northern Gulf Coast of the US in late August – affecting all businesses of the seafood supply chain.
With sunken boats, damaged docks and lack of electricity and ice from the force of hurricane Isaac, the Louisiana seafood industry has suffered significant disruption. Crab fishers in particular took a big hit and have described the disruption for shrimp and finfish as moderate, while oyster productions is expected to be limited until October.
Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board member and owner of crab processing business, Pontchartrain Blue Crab, Gary Bauer was one of the many affected. After missing 10 days of business, preparations have been made to return to work. His facility usually processes more than 18,000 crabs a day this time of the year but crabbers have only been able to supply him with 6,000 pounds over the last 12 days.
Before business could begin again, repairs were to be made to the damaged dock and dismantled equipment was to be assembled. It is uncertain when harvests are likely to pick up again, leaving Mr Bauer, his workers and fishermen without work and retailers and consumers without supplies.
