Higgins: Help crawfish industry after drought, freeze

U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack requesting relief for Louisiana’s crawfish industry after the severe drought in 2023 and recent freeze that devastated production.
“The 2023 drought has led to an alarming decrease in crawfish production across approximately 45,000 acres of ponds,” wrote Higgins, R-Lafayette. “This has been compounded by a recent freeze event, worsening challenges faced by our farmers.
“The Louisiana State University’s Agriculture Center estimated the potential losses to be nearly $140 million due to the combined drought and freeze. This figure represents a significant portion of the state’s $230 million crawfish industry, underscoring the severity of the situation.”
The letter continues to emphasize the need for stronger import protections for crawfish.
“Strict standards for these imports are essential to guarantee fair competition and safeguard consumer health, as they ensure that imported products meet the same safety and quality requirements as domestic products. Additionally, high standards for imports promote global adherence to best practices in aquaculture, benefiting producers and consumers by fostering a culture of excellence and safety in the industry," Higgins wrote.
.”Higgins closes the letter by requesting robust measures to maintain the highest standards for all aquaculture products entering our country.