BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. — Four months have passed since Henry Barnes, the mayor of this beleaguered fishing village in southern Alabama, reached out to Donald Trump for assistance. In his letter, Barnes expressed concern over a flood of cheap imported shrimp that is devastating the local seafood market, attributing the crisis to “low and non-existent tariffs.” He extended an invitation for Trump, for whom he cast his vote, to visit Bayou La Batre, proudly known as Alabama’s Seafood Capital. However, he has yet to receive a response. “He’ll eventually get around to us,” remarked Barnes, a third-generation net-maker. “I mean, we’re just a small town.”
Many shrimpers in this town of approximately 2,000 residents are looking to Wednesday for potential relief. Trump has dubbed it “Liberation Day,” with expectations that the administration will unveil a broader tariff strategy, although the specifics remain unclear. A White House official indicated that the administration is “considering a range of imports that are undermining American producers.” Unlike lobstermen in northern states, who depend on Canada for trade, the U.S. shrimp industry primarily sells domestically. This situation minimizes fears of retaliation while increasing eagerness for tariffs that would elevate the price of foreign shrimp.
Currently, shrimpers claim that imports—which account for over 90% of the shrimp consumed in the United States—force them to lower their prices to remain competitive. Barnes views this issue as an existential threat to Bayou La Batre, where half of the town's workforce is employed in the marine sector, and he estimates that the overall tax revenue has plummeted by roughly 30% in recent years.
The challenges facing Bayou La Batre extend well beyond its borders. According to NOAA Fisheries, a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the total value of the U.S. shrimp catch has diminished from $522 million in 2021 to a mere $268 million in 2023. In February, Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., sent a letter urging Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on shrimp and crawfish imports. Recently, the Trump administration has received nearly 200 comments from individual shrimpers and industry organizations, many detailing the dire outlook of their businesses and advocating for increased tariffs.
“Many view a tariff as a punishment, but we’re not looking to penalize anyone,” explained Steve Bosarge, president of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, a trade organization. “We simply want a level playing field where we can all compete fairly.”
At the docks along Bayou La Batre’s Shell Boat Road, a pungent smell filled the air as a worker aboard a shrimp boat employed a blowtorch. Nearby on the Integrity, crew members just returned from a trip to Key West, Florida, divided fresh pink shrimp to take home. One of the boat’s owners, Charlie Rodriguez, 46, reflected on the harsh reality, stating, “A can of dog food is more expensive than a pound of shrimp.” The price shrimpers receive for medium-size headless shrimp in the Gulf Region has plummeted from $2.85 per pound four years ago to just $1.64 in June. Although prices have seen a slight increase this year, shrimpers continue to grapple with significant operational expenses, such as fuel and maintenance.
“Everyone in this industry has felt the pain,” Rodriguez lamented. Shrimper Jeremy Zirlott, 52, who owns three shrimping boats and works with his wife, Kim, echoed these sentiments. At a local shipyard, he pointed to necessary repairs on his steel boat, the Kimberly Celeste. “You’ve heard of a junkyard dog?” he joked. “That’s a shipyard dog.”
During the pandemic, Zirlott was taken aback by the sudden surge in shrimp imports, particularly from Ecuador, which more than doubled its shipments to the U.S. from 2019 to 2023. As a result, while Americans were facing rising prices for cars, gas, and groceries, shrimpers found themselves receiving less for their catches. “I call it the ‘chickenization’ of shrimp,” Zirlott stated. “Shrimp used to be a luxury item; now it’s one of the cheapest proteins.”
For many residents of Bayou La Batre, shrimping is the backbone of their livelihood. At the Graham Shrimp Company, two women in hairnets and rubber boots carefully inspected popcorn-sized pink shrimp caught in Key West, discarding any remnants of shell or roughness. Bosarge pointed out that tariffs could help address the “graying of the fleet,” as experienced captains and crew members retire without younger replacements. In fiscal year 1995, Alabama had 1,423 commercial shrimp license-holders; by last year, preliminary data revealed only 407.
Many shrimpers are eager for more than just tariffs; they also seek increased testing of imported shrimp for banned antibiotics and federal legislation to limit U.S. support for foreign aquaculture. For Bosarge, however, tariffs represent a crucial first step. Approximately 200 miles away in Venice, Louisiana, Acy Cooper, 64, president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, shares a similar perspective. “We really need effective tariffs to make it feasible to keep working,” he remarked. “This industry is dying.” Last summer, Cooper temporarily left shrimping to drive a barge, but after being laid off, he returned to his true passion: shrimping. “This is where I want to be,” he said, relishing the sunrises and sunsets from his boat. “It’s in my blood.”
While many shrimpers advocate for higher tariffs, others within the seafood industry express concerns about potential repercussions. The governor of Maine has voiced worries about retaliation from Canada, the state’s largest trading partner. The National Fisheries Institute, a trade association, is also cautious, noting that seafood tariffs could trigger inflation. Industry analyst John Sackton, who runs the publication Seafood Source, referenced a recent survey indicating that consumers tend to reduce restaurant dining and opt for cheaper grocery options during economic downturns. “We rely on people frequenting the seafood counter instead of bypassing it,” he explained. “If this economic headwind continues, the seafood sector will face significant challenges.”
Regardless of the outcome regarding tariffs, hope may be on the horizon for Bayou La Batre, as another key industry, shipbuilding, is poised for growth. An expansion of a local shipyard is anticipated to create 136 jobs over the next few years. Standing on the porch of his net shop, which was once a church, Barnes expressed his prayers for a brighter future for shrimpers. He acknowledges that the forthcoming Wednesday will be a pivotal moment. “People will either be happy or sad,” he said. “I hope we’re among the happy ones.”
