Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Fishing and Aquaculture Industries -- Damage and Recovery

Publication Date: October 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Agriculture, forestry and fishing; Environment

Type:

Abstract:

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the center of commercial and recreational fishing along the Gulf of Mexico coast, which produces 10% of the shrimp and 40% of the oysters consumed in the United States. Initial losses to seafood production from Katrina were estimated at $1.1 billion for Louisiana and may exceed $200 million for Alabama, exclusive of infrastructure; Mississippi losses are comparable to those of Alabama. Additional damages from Hurricane Rita may bring Louisiana losses to nearly $2 billion. This report summarizes damage assessments and recovery efforts, and will be updated as warranted to incorporate new information.