2024 could possibly go down as one of the worst year for crawfish production in Louisiana. Louisiana leads the nation in crawfish production but the overly hot summer and lack of rain is having devastating results for this year’s crop.

Nearly 80% of the state remains in a severe drought that is wreaking havoc on the industry. The mudbugs do not have enough water to grow. Combine the drought with the higher temperatures experienced over the summer and the result is much less crawfish production.

LSU Ag Center Crawfish Specialist Mark Shirley shared with Brooke Thorington with the Louisiana Radio Network that he believes 2024 will be one of the worst mudbug seasons on record. He expects high prices and for supply to be minimal.

“It’s going to be the worst season ever. The population is just not there. The buyers are offering $7 and $8 a pound to the fishermen just to try to get them to go out and bait traps and go find them. It could be whatever price, they’re just not there,” said Shirley.

According to Shirley, of the 361,000 acres only half will produce crawfish this year and the half that do, it is going to be late. “You probably find some towards the end of March, April, and May, but it’s going to be a very short supply from the farm.”

In an interview by Tommy Tucker with WWL, Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain shared that some farmers have quit fishing because they are finding no product to sell.

“Farmers that normally catch 30, 40, or 50 sacks (of crawfish) end up with one or two sacks,” Strain said. “By and large, many of them are not fishing right now. They did try, and they didn’t catch anything.”

Strain goes on to say that his main concern is that no one really knows if production will increase at all. There is no way to know but at this moment, predictions do not look good.

It is looking more and more like crawfish will be a rare delicacy this season. Those that are lucky enough to find some, expect them to be smaller than normal and to cost much more.

Sources: Louisiana Radio Network
               WWL First News