Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
(credit: CBS)
DULAC, La. (CBS NEWS) - Shrimping season opened Monday off Louisiana, and fishermen cant get over what theyre finding in the nets. From Texas to North Carolina, fishermen have been catching giant shrimp, big enough to stretch across a 12-inch dinner plate.
Shrimp captain James Mason has fished off of Louisianas coast for 44 years. But he had never caught an Asian tiger prawn until last April, when he netted seven in one month. I didnt know what to think, Mason said. We dumped the net and that popped out on top, and I said, My god, what a big old shrimp.
Mason has sold a few for top dollar $8 each. Thats the most expensive shrimp Ive ever sold in my life, he said. If Mason could sell every shrimp for $8, he wouldnt be shrimping for very long No, you could retire real quick, real quick.
The Asian tiger prawn, native to the western Pacific, is edible, but worrisome an invasive species in waters off the southeastern United States. The U.S. Geological Survey says that they may have escaped from Caribbean aqua-culture farms, or from the water tanks of passing ships. The first few were spotted in 2005. But between 2010 and 2011, the number caught off the Gulf and Atlantic coasts spiked from 32 to 569.
The size is astounding, but the arrival of the creatures gives even a seafood seller pause. Thats the worrisome part, said fourth-generation seafood wholesaler Kim Chauvin, because youre wondering what the feeding part is. Youre going, Wow, how much does it eat in one day?
Asian tiger prawns feed on crabs, mollusks and smaller shrimp. And each female can produce 1.5 million eggs a year.
Chauvin and some marine ecologists worry that the prawns could eat through native habitats. Its the unknown, the fear of the unknown, Chauvin said, because in our industry, you need to know whats going on all the time, just for the ecosystem.
Click Here To Read More From CBS News
Also Check Out:
Butter Popcorn Chemical Linked To Alzheimers
Police Sgt. Left Holding Bag Over Chick-fil-A Sandwich
KRLD Restaurant Week
New $60 Million Allen H.S. Football Field Complete
Expecting A Higher Water Bill? Blame Zebra Mussels
