Since the year 2000, and prior to the devastating droughts and hurricanes of 2005, Louisiana crawfish farmers were increasing the size of their farms, pulling larger quantities of product from their ponds and the number of farmers had grown by nearly 25%. During the same period, Louisiana crops such as sugar, cotton and rice declined steadily.

The growth of the crawfish industry has come about in spite of the massive importation of crawfish and the loss of processing facilities.

Louisiana farm-raised crawfish enjoys no tax-based price support nor do we want one. As entrepreneurs and American farmers, we embrace a true free market.

With the massive coastal erosion and loss of estuaries, migratory birds and other creatures of the wetlands are forced to find other habitats. Our ponds not only provide an excellent substitute feeding ground but also the shallow water conditions required for breeding and nesting. It would be advantageous to both the state and crawfish farmers if our ponds were officially recognized as contributors to the wetlands replication effort.

While crawfishing in the public waterways and spillways is the origin of the Louisiana crawfish industry, Louisiana crawfish farmers provide 85% of the domestic product brought to the tables of Louisiana and beyond.

The Louisiana crawfish is a cultural, economic and marketing icon. Its image and reputation for quality and uniqueness is not only used to promote Louisiana food products, tourism and the hospitality industry, but shows up in the oilfield, manufacturing and just about anywhere Louisiana products or services are sold.

The LA crawfish industry is becoming a driving force in Louisiana agriculture and crawfish farming is becoming more recognized as a growth industry.

Source: Louisiana Crawfish Farmers Association