Article

August 11, 2003

By JOHN DeSANTIS [Houma Courier] August 11, 2003- KENNER -- Plans by two separate organizations to file trade actions against shrimp imports has sparked a contest for the hearts and wallets of fishermen as both groups seek to lead the charge and fill their war chests to pay attorneys millions of dollars.

But elected officials, some fishermen and business leaders say the race is more akin to a game of chicken and express fears that the splintering may damage efforts to rebuild the struggling industry.

Friday afternoon the Southern Shrimp Alliance, a coalition of fishermen, processors, boat builders and dock owners from eight southern states (including Louisiana) voted to pursue seeking tariffs on imports by filing petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce alleging that other nations are 'dumping' shrimp into U.S. markets.

Two days before that, leaders of the Louisiana Shrimp Association, which holds two seats on the Alliance’s board, announced its own plans to do the same.

But two trade actions means two sets of lawyers for a case federal trade law experts say would eventually be consolidated, meaning twice the legal fees up to that point. Supporters of unity say the two sides must put aside their differences and work together now.

INDUSTRY DIMINISHED
Houma grocery store owner Vince Cannata, a strong supporter of local fishermen, said the entire business community has reason to be concerned. He expressed hope that elected officials can provide guidance to help fishermen work through the rift.

'If we don’t get past this hurdle I think the momentum that is going to be required to keep our industry alive is going to be lost,' Cannata said. 'Anybody in business in our area needs to understand that when a major industry like the shrimping industry, so vital to our area is diminished,
we are all diminished. It’s not a Halliburton, it is not Shell Oil but it is screaming out for attention.'

Suggestions abound in the chaos-ridden industry as to which organization should blink or whether either should. Critics of the Louisiana group say its leaders rushed to judgment by committing to a trade action just before the eight-state coalition was prepared to announce its decision. Critics of the eight-state group say that organization was not fast enough, and its perceived reluctance to make a decision on trade action is a harbinger of problems to come.

FORMULA FOR FAILURE
State Sen. Reggie Dupre Jr. (D-Bourg), seen by fishermen as a committed supporter, is hatching plans to bring both groups together.

'When you don’t have unity on this kind of issue it is a formula for failure,' Dupre said. But he may need a tough sell to convince Louisiana Shrimp Association President A.J. Fabre that unity is needed.

'The Louisiana shrimper right now I would say is unified, we are going to handle our own destiny in Louisiana,' said Fabre, insisting that time is of the essence, and that involvement of shrimpers from his state as well as others is required. 'One of the things they could do to get it done quicker it to join the Louisiana Shrimp Association because we are moving forward.'

CONTENTIOUS HISTORY
The saga started just about a year ago, when current Louisiana Shrimp Association chairman George Barisich -- a St. Bernard Parish fisherman -- brought shrimping leaders from several states together for a presentation by attorneys on anti-dumping measures.

The group threw out the Barisich plan and formed a new organization, called the Southern Shrimp Alliance. Barisich and Fabre were named interim president and vice president, respectively. The group as a whole favored a cautious approach, but friction developed between some members and the Louisiana delegation.

Fabre and Barisich were bumped from the group’s executive committee and later resigned. In Jan. 2003, Louisiana Shrimp Association board members voted on the question of whether the group should continue to be part of the alliance.

They opted to stay in by the narrowest of margins, but the Louisiana group’s leadership showed little interest in funding the eight-state effort.

The alliance did hire a law firm -- with money that included $30,000 sent through the Louisiana group -- to study the question of a trade action. Its report was received more than two months ago but no other moves were made.

Alliance board members say they were merely tied up with their jobs or other responsibilities.

'They don’t have enough time to pursue our issues like they should be being pursued,' Fabre said. 'Our issues is secondary to their jobs. So why should Louisiana shrimpers and the shrimpers of the U.S. put our destiny in their hands?'

Just over a week ago, Fabre told fishermen in Dulac that they had to join a planned Louisiana Shrimp Association effort to bring its own action against imports.

'The eight-states (group) has done nothing,' said Fabre, who acknowledged he told board members this week in a closed meeting that he would quit as president if they didn’t approve his plan for Louisiana to move ahead on its own.

The measure passed unanimously, though a few board members later said they were not comfortable with their votes.

RACE FOR DOLLARS
Fabre said he has commitments from about 700 Louisiana fishermen to send in portions of federal disaster aid payments they will receive later this month -- which authorities say is allowed under the rules -- and expects to get more. Commitments of financial help from shrimpers in Alabama and Texas, he said, are expected soon.

Fast-track help with contacting fishermen and obtaining their production data -- important for an anti-dumping -- from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, as well as potential funding through legislation that could be passed as early as Feb. 2004 during a special session makes Louisiana a potential leader in funding.

Even Fabre’s sharpest critics say he is a fund-raising whiz with the capability of motivating fishermen and anyone else within sound of his voice -- although sometimes his zeal has resulted in alienation of potential allies.

The Southern Shrimp Alliance needs money to proceed as well, and its board members are expected to seek assistance from fishermen throughout the Gulf and South Atlantic. Fabre also plans to target fishermen outside Louisiana.

'We are telling our fishermen you had better jump on this train and get on board,' said Cindy Johnson, spokesperson for the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama, whose 78 are expected to join with Louisiana Monday.

Johnson said she and other Alabama shrimpers were not informed of the alliance’s activities or timetables.

THEY SHOULD MERGE
In Georgia, veteran shrimper Kenny Atwood -- whose boat and home are at risk because of the industry woes -- said he thought the Southern Shrimp Alliance dropped the idea of a trade action until he heard about the group’s decision today. But he is not comfortable with the idea of a split,
and will still cast his lot with the eight-state alliance when it comes time to shell out what meager funds he can scrape up.

'I don’t see any real reason why there should be two,' he said. 'I am not so clear on this busting up other than Louisiana going hell bent into it and everyone else wanting to study it a little bit. It seems they should probably merge back somehow. I know some feelings have been hurt.'

In Louisiana, members of shrimping families like Cathy Blanchard of Cut Off -- whose husband left her with a kiss on the eve of Louisiana’s new fall shrimp season with a brave 'I’m goin’ get ëem' -- watch to see what develops.

She was told that both the Louisiana Shrimp Association and the Southern Shrimp Alliance are moving ahead.

'We need one head,' she said. 'The word of God tells us united we stand and divided we fall. I wish we could see them come together.'