Shrimpers prepare to cast nets after G-8 summit delays season

By Josh Hoke, The Sun News

'It's a very critical time for a very historic industry. It has a lot of traditions, and it's kind of a way of life that we are seeing on the verge of disappearing.'

Chris Smith | spokesman, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries After the longest wait in three years, area shrimpers are finally counting down the final days until South Carolina's seas open for business.

The state shrimp season opens Tuesday, signaling the latest start since a 2001 cold snap pushed the opening back until late June. Officials say the green light comes at a crucial time for many locals, who have been struck hard by domestic fuel prices and have seen prices driven down by imported competition.

"It's really a vibrant industry, but it's being hurt by a lot of factors," said Chris Smith, a spokesman for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries. "It's a very critical time for a very historic industry. It has a lot of traditions, and it's kind of a way of life that we are seeing on the verge of disappearing."

Although the future seems uncertain for the industry, officials are predicting a solid 2004 season, which was delayed due to the Group of Eight summit in Sea Island, Ga. South Carolina and Georgia plan their starts at the same time, and summit security would have created delays in Georgia.

Shrimpers can start fishing at 7 a.m. Tuesday, David Whitaker of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources said. After opening day, shrimpers will be allowed to begin fishing at 5 a.m. each morning, but night shrimping probably won't be allowed for another month.

After seeing results from preliminary tests, DNR is expecting a slightly below-average shrimp season. Whitaker said he's estimating a net of 300,000 to 400,000 pounds of white shrimp, which will be harvested for the next few weeks. The annual average is around 400,000 pounds.At this point of the season, Whitaker is unsure of the delay's total effect.

"Shrimpers typically don't fish from January to early June anyway," he said. "This has delayed their start a little, although in the big picture, I don't think it will be that big of a deal. Those guys have other jobs the rest of the year, but certainly they would prefer to catch shrimp."

Shrimp season has opened by June 10 for the past two years. The 2001 cold snap killed the majority of shrimp eggs.

Officials say the main concern among fishermen is shrimp prices, which have been deflated because of low-priced, low-quality international competition.Local retailers haven't seen the drastic price drop.

"I don't see that the import market is hurting things as bad as people have said," said Timmy Platt, manager of Cherry Grove's Eugene Platt's Seafood Co. "I think [prices] have gone down 20 to 30 cents a pound. Over the last few years, the international market has really started to develop quality shrimp.

"I think more than anything, the price drop has retailers being able to find better deals. That's the big reason."

Fishermen also have been hurt by soaring gas prices. That has kept many shrimpers from venturing into federal waters - more than three miles from shore - while awaiting the state's opening day.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, regional diesel prices - the main fuel for shrimp boats - average $1.64 a gallon, a 26-cent increase from last year.Unleaded gasoline prices in the region are $1.95 a gallon, an increase of 57 cents from last year. The statistics were released June 7.

Those numbers have curbed some of the excitement that comes with opening day, but fishermen still are eyeing Tuesday with hope.

"It's a red-letter day for them," Whitaker said.

Across the border in North Carolina, shrimpers have been in the ocean for several weeks. The state doesn't enforce a rigid season; instead, it closes some waters depending on shrimp size, Rich Carpenter of the N.C. Department of Marine Fisheries said.

He said that the ocean off the Brunswick County border has been closed at night, a request from fishermen who thought the area shouldn't be worked all day. Other intracoastal waters are closed until about July 4.