MAYPORT, FL — Shrimp nets have been hauling in their catch off off the coast of Mayport for generations.
But, tough times are ahead for the guys who bring you the catch of the day.
It’s been done here for generations by people like Capt. George Williams.
He has fished for shrimp for nearly 40 years through good times and bad.
“The hook broke,” said Williams.
Lately it’s been bad and Williams doesn’t know how much longer he can hold on.
“This used to be a real good job. You could make good money, a real decent living at it. My two sons quit. One of ‘em joined the Army,” he said.
There are still plenty of shrimp to catch. However, the price has plummeted, and the cost of fuel has shot up.
Dragging nets through the water burns lots of fuel. A day in the water can easily cost over a $1,000 in diesel.
Shrimpers refer to this as trading shrimp for fuel. Some months its better business not to go on the water.
“The fuel’s what stopping us now. I mean really, right now if we catch 700 pounds a day the boat will just break even,” said Williams.
Williams’ shrimp boat has been in dry dock for three months, waiting for the height of the season to jumpstart their fortunes.
By the new math of their industry, good is no longer good enough.
Just how bad is it? One first mate came back after spending three weeks out on a shrimp boat. His captain came to him and said “We didn’t make any money on this trip. You owe me $200 for your meals.”
Source: First Coast News
I hadn’t thought about how expensive it is for shrimpers to fuel up their boats in order to fish the ocean. I know that the truckers that own their own rigs are having a tough time so I should have thought of it, but didn’t.
Robert D said,
May 18, 2008 @ 12:22 am
The price of diesel will bring this country to a halt faster than any other single reason. Everything we get, EVERYTHING, gets to us by diesel fuel. If a ship brings it, a truck distributes it. If a plane brings it, same thing. We all depend on trucks, that run on diesel, to deliver everything we use. The powers that be better wake up soon!
swampie said,
May 18, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
Yep.
swampie said,
May 18, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
The environmental lobby does not seem to realize that it is only because of oil-based fuels that we have the luxury of having some lands returning to forests (we have far more forested lands than in 1900) and, because we do not have to eat them as food, we are able to allow some species of animals to repopulate.