Shrimp Boat

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. -- Most shrimpers should be out over open waters by now, but instead some of their boats are docked.

"Normally these vessels would have been out 45 days ago and they are still here so it's delayed as far as production," said Ernie Anderson.

Anderson owns Graham Shrimp Company. Now that fuel prices have soared he said not only are they having to worry about finding shrimp, but crew members as well.

"It does cut into the crews share so it has caused some crew members to leave the industry so we are making every effort to see that those crew members are taken care of," said Anderson.

He is also doing what he can to cut costs.

"90% of my time over the last 30 days has been trying to find any kind of resolve or kind of help that could reduce our cost," Anderson said.

He has talked with many people in the industry including companies from Texas to the East Coast to try to come up with a solution to the fuel crisis.

So while those in the shrimping business are doing what they can to make ends meet the pain they are feeling in their pockets is affecting something we all love...food.

Kendall Stork owns The Lighthouse Restaurant in Bayou La Batre. He buys his shrimp local and says he is trying to do what he can for his customers.

"We are going to keep our prices as is for now until we see a bad difference," said Stork.

We also asked him if the price for shrimp kept going up because of fuel prices, would he ever stop carrying them in his restaurant.

"Not if I can help it, I will find a way," Stork said.

He said he will do what he can with what he has. A good motto for everyone to remember as gas prices continue to climb.