La. gov seeks probe of foreign shrimp practices

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal asked the federal government Wednesday to investigate whether foreign countries are unfairly manipulating the shrimp industry's marketplace.

In a letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Shara L. Aranoff, head of the U.S. International Trade Commission, Jindal said he wants to make certain that foreign countries aren't harming his state's shrimp industry.

Jindal's request came a day after hundreds of shrimpers protested at the state Capitol, threatening to go on strike because of low prices they say make it impossible to make a profit. Shrimpers complained that their product can sell for up to $4 per pound at market, but they only get paid up to 75 cents.

"The effects of cheap, foreign shrimp imports, together with drastic reductions in dockside shrimp prices, threaten the economic sustainability of the domestic shrimp fishery in Louisiana, as well as in our neighboring states," Jindal wrote.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who addressed the shrimpers Tuesday, said he wants a congressional hearing next month to look into allegations of price-fixing in the shrimp market.

Jindal's letter also notes that a 2008 study by Southwick Associates on the economic benefits of fisheries indicates that the Louisiana commercial shrimp fishery had an economic impact of about $1.3 billion, supported 14,384 jobs and generated $91.1 million and $83.4 million in state and federal revenues, respectively.