Shrimpers receive grant

By ARABELLA SERRATA
Staff Writer

The Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation (EDC) has given a grant to shrimp boat owners that dock in Port Isabel.

There will be six grants, each in the amount of $10,000.00. As of the time of writing, three of the six grants
have been paid. Round one of the grant will conclude once all six of the grants have been paid.

The grant was decided during the July 3 Port Isabel City Council meeting, and it comes at a critical time for the shrimping community. Valerie Bates, Marketing Director of Port Isabel, gave some insight into the situation. She said that one of the issues the industry is battling is the lack of visas that would allow many of the workforce to support the season. The cost of fuel and the price a pound of shrimp goes for are also slipping in opposite directions.

The grant goes directly to the local vendors to pay for the boats’ fuel.

“The Port Isabel EDC recognizes that this industry is not just a historical and traditional part of our local
culture, but also provides jobs. Not just for the crew who work the boat, but for accountants and
bookkeepers and mechanics and other supporting industries,” said Bates. Port Isabel is the precursor town to South Padre Island and takes great pride in the hospitality that it offers through outlets like food. Shrimp is an important part of the local economy and has earned the town a reputation for coastal dining.

The PRESS interviewed a local captain, Victor Martinez, back in February on the economic state of
shrimping at that point. At this time many of the boats used for shrimping had gone unused.

“The buyers are buying our shrimp for $2.80 per pound, but they’re selling it for a minimum of
$12/pound,” said Martinez. “Everyone’s making money except the boat captains. That’s why we’re parking
our boats and some are just getting completely out of the business.”

According to the Port Isabel Historical Museum, Port Isabel was once considered “the shrimping capital
of the world” during the mid-20th century. However, that status has long since disappeared due to the
increase in shrimp imports from abroad and farm-raised shrimp that has been raised in farms. It is often
cheaper for consumers to purchase internationally imported shrimp.

The PRESS spoke with Chris Johnson, owner of the local seafood restaurant “Hooked on Seafood.” He
provided a critical overview of the industry as it stands. Many companies around South Padre Island [SPI]
are choosing to buy from exported sources and “pinching pennies where they don’t need to,’ according to
Johnson. Johnson also said that many companies prefer looking out for their “bottom line,” rather than help
local sources.

“If we don’t have local shrimp coming in anymore, we’re not going to have business,” said Johnson.

Johnson, believing the grant is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to solving the economic crisis the
shrimp industry is undergoing, said that the only way he can see the situation improving is if the state of
Texas raises tariffs and restrictions on exported shrimp. He gave an example of the differences in prices
from local to exported seafood: he said that local jumbo shrimp can cost from five to seven dollars per
pound in wholesale prices. Whereas exported shrimp from China, Indonesia and India can cost about three
dollars per pound for the same size. Johnson gave a rough estimate that only 10% of establishments on
South Padre Island use locally sourced shrimp and general seafood.

“Farm-raised shrimp is basically just tubs full of shrimp that are getting fed pellets. They don’t have any
real flavor. They are in horrible condition. It turns something that is supposed to be good for your body like
seafood into poison,” said Johnson.

This is not a baseless claim as the shrimping industry is infamous for the “chronic overuse of antibiotics”
in their farms, according to oceana.org. Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated
to the healing and protection of their oceans.

For more information on the grant, shrimp boat owners can contact the Port Isabel City Hall at (956) 943-
2682. Interested applicants must provide proof of participation in last year’s shrimping season and
supporting documents of compliance with this season’s regulations.