Year: 2017
Project(s):
Relevance
Producers in the U.S. shrimp industry have experienced economic hardships because of rising production costs and competition from imported shrimp. This hardship forced many shrimpers to leave the industry. In order for the domestic fishery to remain viable, producers needed to learn how to reduce operating costs and get more money for their catch. In 2010, the Southern Shrimp Alliance successfully petitioned for shrimp harvested in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic (North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas) to be considered an eligible commodity for the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers program in FY2010. Nearly 4,000 members of the shrimping industry from throughout the eight states applied to participate in the FY2010 TAA program.
Response
Before becoming eligible for cash benefits, each producer needed to receive 12 hours of TAA Intensive Technical Assistance and develop an initial business plan to help them become more competitive in the world marketplace. In 2011, 22 3-hour TAA workshops were conducted on topics designed to increase the global competitiveness and economic levels of Gulf and South Atlantic shrimpers. Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant outreach personnel developed training modules, helped industry members fill out forms and paperwork, and assisted with workshop advertisement, logistics and facilitation. More than 750 commercial fishermen from Alabama and Mississippi participated in the TAA workshops.
Results
In Alabama and Mississippi, 789 shrimpers each received 12 hours of Intensive Technical Assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program for Shrimpers, making each eligible for $4,000 in cash benefits. This totaled $3,156,000 in additional earnings for shrimpers.
Recap
Because of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium outreach efforts, shrimpers obtained training that made them eligible for more than $3 million in cash benefits under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (www.taaforfarmers.org). (2017)