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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 6
February 2007
Shrimp abundant; counts higher than market prefers
KENNEBUNK, ME – With shrimp boats from Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts nearly two months into a 151-day season by mid-January, fishermen were reporting seeing lots of shrimp in the mid-40 to mid-50 count range.
“The shrimp haven’t moved inshore,” said Spencer Fuller at Cozy Harbor Seafood Inc. in Portland, the region’s major shrimp buyer. “Counts are high in the 45-55 range – not a premium product.”
At NOVA Seafood Ltd. in Portland, company President Angelo Ciocca said it had been a seesaw type of year so far.
“For a couple, three days we see a good size shrimp and then maybe three days of mixy shrimp,” he said. “It’s basically what we expected. We wished they were running a bit bigger.”
NOVA is currently processing and selling fresh, headless raw meat to retailers and distributors in Maine and out of state. Some product goes to the Canadian market to be machine peeled.
In Downeast Maine, the Winter Harbor and Stonington co-ops reported that, as of mid-January, none of their boats were shrimping.
At Maine Shellfish in Ellsworth, Sales Manager Reggie Young said, “We are buying our shrimp from boats out of New Harbor and we are seeing better shrimp since they began fishing inside.”
Dan Young at the South Bristol co-op reported that their dragger shrimp was going to Cozy Harbor’s buying station at the former Massey Seafood plant in South Bristol.
33-50 cents
“Prices are based on counts with high prices at about 50 cents for big shrimp and lows at 33 cents per pound,” said Young. The shrimp trappers haven’t started yet. They put out a few feelers but nothing is happening.”
Greg Middendoft of Atlantic Edge Lobster Company in Boothbay noted that last year there was a lot of 36-count shrimp around and so far this year its mostly 50-count shrimp.
“We’re seeing smaller shrimp this year,” he said, adding that trappers were expected to set the week of Jan. 22.
At Shaw’s Wharf in New Harbor, three boats were shrimping.
“We are seeing counts in the high 40s,” said David McLain of Shaw’s Wharf.
Trap fishermen there were not expected to start until Feb. 1.
Moving down the coast, Lester Durant, manager of Cundy’s Harbor wharf, reported that seven draggers were shrimping and coming in with counts of 42-48 per pound.
“Our boats are still fishing in deep water,” he said.
Big hauls
“Catches are great,” commented New Hampshire fisherman and Portsmouth Fishermen’s Co-op Manager Peter Kendall. “We are seeing anywhere from 5,000 pounds to 10,000 pounds per day with counts in the mid-to-high 40s. The boats are still out in deep water – 60-70 fathoms.”
On Jan. 22, Bob Campbell, manager of the Yankee Fishermen’s Co-op, reported four boats out fishing. He added that the co-op boats have brought in a nice product with counts in the mid-40s, but have had to travel for it.
In Gloucester, Monte Rome of Intershell International Corp. was buying shrimp off of one boat. The shrimp counts have been in the 40s, but the market was more difficult this year than last, according to Rome.
“I have restricted the catch that I buy because I already have thousands of pounds of frozen shrimp,” said Rome.
Rosanne Mizzoni
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