Is there hope that this year's crawfish season can be salvaged? One expert says, the answer's not quite simple.
LSU AgCenter crawfish specialist Mark Shirley says crawfish farmers will see between a 60- and 80-percent reduction in output this year. However, he says the wild crawfish crop in the Atchafalaya Basin could see a boost, but only if the Mississippi River watershed sees enough precipitation to allow it.
"It kind of depends on water levels and how much rain they get and the snow melt over the next four or five or six months," Shirley said. "There's still not a lot of crawfish coming from the ponds."
Shirley noted that although crawfish production in ponds remains low, production there has increased slightly.
"Crawfish availability is going to be a little bit better, but we're going from less than five percent of a normal catch, and the last few days, it increased to eight or nine percent."
Even if the wild crawfish crop helps prop up the supply of the crustaceans, expect to pay a pretty penny to host your crawfish boil.
"The price has to be high enough to warrant the farmers actually attempting to catch crawfish," Shirley said. "They have to pay (for) their bait and labor. If they can't cover their costs just on a daily basis, there's no point in running their traps."
Shirley adds that if you like to cook crawfish étoufée or other crawfish dishes, you'll be out of luck.
"This year, I doubt if they'll put up any tail meat at all. The live market is probably going to take everything that's harvestable, whether it comes from the farm or the basin."
