Seafood consumption has been on the rise locally and nationally and even more so this time of year during Lent.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that the average American consumes 16 pounds of seafood a year. Consumers in the Rio Grande Valley have excellent options when buying fish and shrimp. Many local businesses sell seafood caught in the Gulf of Mexico and take pride in having fresh products.

Much of the shrimp sold in this country is either farm-raised or imported from overseas. Going local is a point many of the businesses at the Brownsville Shrimp Basin make in greeting their customers with stickers saying, “Friends don’t let friends eat foreign shrimp.”

Some retailers in the Port Isabel/South Padre lsland area and at the basin have been selling shrimp for decades. Many of them also own the trawlers that they send to Texas and Louisiana waters in search of the highly sought product of the sea.

Zimco Marine at the BSB has been in business for nearly four decades. They just began selling five-pound bags of shrimp five years ago. Greg Londrie, the business manager, said the shrimp they sell to the public is at a price point between what is sold to wholesalers and retailers.  A list of prices show $6.50 for one pound to $87.50 for a five-pound bag.

The Shrimp Outlet, a company owned and run by Charles Burnell, has also been selling shrimp and fish for many years. He said it’s increasingly harder to find people to work on shrimp boats. A large number of these workers come from Mexico and from as far south as Nicaragua. It is becoming harder for these foreign workers to gain permits to work in the United States.  Another shrimp boat owner said American workers often don’t like working on shrimp boats as it requires weeks out at sea during the season.

In Port Isabel, a number of seafood restaurants have their own in-house seafood shops. Here customers can buy either fresh or frozen shrimp. Joe’s Oyster Bar and Los Tortugos are among them. Prices range from $45-60 for a five-pound of frozen shrimp and $10.99-13.99 for a pound of fresh shrimp.

In this part of the country, consumption of seafood increases during the Lent season. Demand from Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday usually means consumers pay a little more for seafood. Seafood is available at most supermarkets but nothing beats a product from area business owners who continue catching and offering an affordable product.