Congressman Gonzalez Sends Letter to Commerce Secretary Urging Federal Aid for Gulf Coast Shrimpers

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, September 29, 2023, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo urging the Department of Commerce to initiate a review and issue a fishery resource disaster determination for fisheries on the Gulf of Mexico. 

“We need our federal government to protect our South Texas shrimpers,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Texas Gulf Coast shrimpers generate roughly $850 million for the state of Texas annually and account for over 14,000 domestic jobs.  However, our domestic shrimpers continue to experience economic hardships caused by an increase in foreign shrimp imports, high fuel prices, labor shortages, and immigration regulations. South Texas shrimpers are on the verge of economic collapse. Counties along the Coast, including Cameron County and the City of Port of Isabel, have issued local disaster declarations. That is why I strongly urge the Secretary and the Department of Commerce to issue a fishery resource disaster determination which would allow South Texas shrimpers access to federal disaster relief funding, so this critical industry does not disappear.” 

Read the full letter here. 

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