If you can't find any crawfish for a Good Friday or Easter crawfish boil, don't fret: fish, shrimp, and other seafood are plentiful.
According to one export, those other seafoods can yield a more plentiful and more budget-friendly feast.
"Catfish is pretty cheat," Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board member Acy Cooper said. "Wild-caught catfish is pretty cheap."
Cooper notes that catfish is not as cheap is shrimp. According to Cooper, increased supplies and low demand are driving down shrimp prices.
"16/20s, we sell them retail about $3 (per pound), but if you go to the dock, we're only going to get 80 cents," Cooper said.
Cooper blames imports for the overabundance of shrimp on the market.
"You know, we bring in two billion pounds of shrimp, and we only consume 1.5 (billion pounds)," Cooper said. "One of the problems is that we know they're getting subsidies. These foreign countries are getting subsidies and slave labor."
If you're craving oysters this Easter, expect to pay a pretty penny.
"I think they're $50 or $40 for a little sack," Cooper said. "A big sack is probably about $80."
Cooper urged seafood lovers to keep one item in mind before they make a purchase.
"Just make sure you buy Louisiana shrimp," Cooper said, urging consumers to purchase other seafood caught in Louisiana, too. "We're an American industry. We need the support."
