LA crawfish harvest down as much as 90%, shortage that could cripple industry for years

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved emergency financial relief for struggling crawfish farmers and fisherman for a 2024 harvest that is down 50-90% across Louisiana, according to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. However, the cash might not be enough to save next year's season.

"Louisiana’s crawfish aquaculture industry will experience impacts from the 2023 drought for several seasons before an economic recovery is complete," wrote the Ag Center's Greg Lutz on TheFishSite.com. "Should drought conditions return before that takes place, the industry will be drastically transformed from the one we have come to know."

Crawfish season is winding down across Louisiana, which produces about the majority of the nation's crawfish every year, according to the Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board. Just in time for the summer heat, the mudbugs will burrow into the mud to spawn. But last year, a series of weather and climate disasters killed many. The high mortality rate of the crawfish meant fewer seeds for next year's crop..

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