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The Fleet is in danger of disappearing.
The southern shrimp fleet is navigating serious economic headwinds from multiple directions. The market is flooded with imported shrimp from countries like India, Ecuador, and Thailand, where lower production costs allow them to sell at prices that Georgia shrimpers struggle to match. Without adequate trade protections, these imports have saturated the U.S. market, depressing prices for local wild-caught shrimp and squeezing profit margins for southern shrimping operations.
Operating costs have risen dramatically, creating additional strain on the industry. Diesel fuel prices have more than tripled, while expenses for supplies, boat maintenance, and repairs have outpaced shrimpers' earnings. These mounting costs force difficult decisions, with some operators reducing their time at sea or leaving the industry entirely.
The industry also faces a demographic challenge, often called the "graying of the fleet." As experienced shrimpers retire, fewer young people are stepping in to replace them. Many veteran shrimpers encouraged their children to pursue more stable careers away from the uncertainties of life at sea. The decline extends beyond the workforce to the physical infrastructure as developers purchase and repurpose docks and railways that once supported the shrimping industry. This erosion of both human and physical resources raises concerns about the long-term sustainability of southern shrimping heritage.