A new study by the University of Louisiana Lafayette examining the people and industries on the frontlines of Gulf seafood and detailing how the industry has weathered challenges while capitalizing on opportunities for growth will be expanded to include all Louisiana parishes bordering the Gulf. A $250,000 grant by the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Boardwill dovetail with an initial grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the same amount expanding the initial study.
The additional funding will enable University researchers to more closely examine the seafood supply chain in seven additional coastal parishes – Cameron, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Plaquemines, Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard. The study, Seafood Economic Development in Underserved Rural Coastal Louisiana Parishes, will evaluate the coastal Louisiana seafood supply chain to build a comprehensive economic development strategy grounded in the needs and perspectives of stakeholders who live and work in those communities.
“Louisiana’s seafood industry has an annual economic impact of more than $2.4 billion,” said Chalin Delaune, chairman of the Seafood Board and owner of Tommy’s Seafood. “The state is the leading supplier of shrimp, blue crab, crawfish and oysters in the United States, and one out of every 70 state jobs is related to the seafood industry.”
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