First Look At Louisiana Shrimp Season: Cool Front, Freshwater Depress The Catch

Four shrimp boats rounded the corner of Easterlings Canal on their way to the dock at Ditcharo Seafood in Buras. One after another, deckhands threw ropes onto the pier, lassoed wooden posts and pulled their boats tight. 

The boats were coming back from the east side of the Mississippi River, where the shrimp season opened May 15. The shrimpers spent four days on the water, trawling at night and trying to catch a bit of sleep each morning. The constant swaying of the boat was like living on a hammock, said Somon In, who works on a shrimp boat with his father.

But when they arrived at the dock, the shrimpers had little to show for their work. They said they caught about a third of their typical load. "I might not go back out because it's so bad," In said. "I might find another job."

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