Pelicans relish opportunity to be in the hunt
April 15, 2015
UPDATE: School board asks for cheerleading rules to be reviewed
April 15, 2015
Braving ever-grayer skies and a burgeoning string of Gulf of Mexico storms, small armadas of shrimp boats took to the waters of two Terrebonne Parish bayous Sunday as part of a long-standing tradition of seeking the Almighty’s blessings.
On Bayou Grand Caillou and Bayou Petit Caillou the boats paraded southward, some displaying streamers and pictures of saints. At the bow of each vessel leading the parade stood a priest, sprinkling holy water on the docked boats they passed, praying for a bountiful catch, well-functioning equipment and the safety of all the men and women who work on the water.
Interviews with industry sources and fishermen indicate that the economic waters Louisiana’s shrimp fleet will weather after the May season’s start date is announced could be choppy. But at Sunday’s ceremonies hearts were light and optimism reigned.
In Dulac there was a special guest; Bishop Shelton Fabre of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux offered blessings on board a shrimp boat, along with the pastor of Holy Family Church, the Rev. Alexis Lazarra.
“We all had fun,” said Rose Fitch of Dulac, who joined friends and relatives aboard the 54-foot trawler Master Fitch, one of close to 20 commercial vessels that made the annual trek to the junction of Bayou Grand Caillou and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, where a wreath commemorating those lost at sea is traditionally tossed. “We are hoping to have it better but we don’t know about the price of the shrimp and we are hearing it could be bad.”
The Dulac armada ran into weather during the last leg of their journey. A strong line of squalls made for wet travels on the way back.
In Chauvin the boat blessing escaped effects of the threatening weather, which was the cause of Montegut’s boat blessing being postponed to this coming Sunday.
But the turnout was small compared to previous years.
About a dozen commercial vessels fell in line behind the 50-foot trawler Daddy Bucks, skippered by Chauvin fisherman Jordan Picou.
At the prow was the Rev. Wilmer Todd, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church, who officiated at a boat blessing for the first time in his priestly career.
“This is the first time for me, but my dad led the parade a couple of times in the past 20 years,” said Picou, referring to his father, Conrad Picou, a retired shrimper who came along for the ride.
Picou was willing to risk foul weather because the cost of crawfish, decorations and other trappings was formidable. “It costs a lot of money to do this, investing time and money that would have been lost if we had to cancel. But it worked out.”
Money is one reason boats that once participated did not travel Bayou Petit Caillou this year, as well as other issues.
Kim and David Chauvin kept their three big trawlers, the Mariah Jade, Dayton and Destin and the Dusty James tied up, because they were addressing mechanical issues and an engine change-out.
But they had friends and relatives join them at the family dock across from the Piggly-Wiggly to cheer on those vessels that joined the parade.
The Chauvins and members of other shrimping families said concerns about liability have also made some fishermen reluctant to cruise down the bayou on boat blessing day.
Among the economic factors fishermen will face this year is an expected new flood of imported shrimp, which could bring market prices down.
Early Mortality Syndrome, a disease which has affected overseas aquaculture operations, had decimated southeast Asian shrimp farm populations but the threat has largely ended.
A consortium of shrimp processors were recently turned down after making a bid for increased tariffs, which will also not help dockside prices.
Even so, Kim Chauvin expressed optimism.
“If the fuel stays low and there is quantity it could be a good season,” she said.
