Shrimpers to discuss suit against Vietnam, others, over alleged dumping

NEW ORLEANS - Shrimp industry representatives will meet with lawyers Monday to discuss lawsuits against countries whose rock-bottom shrimp prices have hurt the domestic shrimp industry.<br> <br> Shrimpers are considering suing China, Vietnam, Thailand and other countries, said George Barisich, president of the United Commercial Fisherman&#39;s Association, sponsor of Monday&#39;s meeting in New Orleans. Shrimp representatives from Alabama, Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and other shrimping states will attend.<br> <br> &#34;We stand a better chance of success when all the shrimp-producing states come on board,&#34; Barisich said. &#34;The work can be done quicker, we can all come together and set the attorneys loose, and then the quicker it all goes into motion.&#34;<br> <br> Successful suits could result in new tariffs on imported shrimp and could be the first step toward import quotas. But lawyers who specialize in such suits caution that dumping allegations can be difficult to prove.<br> <br> A key element of any successful anti-dumping petition is proof that a product is not only sold cheaply once exported, but that it is sold cheaper than the exporting country&#39;s own domestic prices, legal experts said.<br> <br> Barisich and others in the shrimp industry said they have few other options. Low dockside prices are squeezing shrimpers, and plummeting world market prices have narrowed - and in some cases eliminated - profit margins for the processors who buy their catches.<br> <br> If shrimp representatives approve the lawyers&#39; plan, a 30-day research period will follow, allowing the lawyers to refine their strategies.<br> <br> Shrimpers say increasing quantities of imported pond-raised shrimp are the reason U.S. docks and processors are paying far less for domestic wild-caught shrimp than they have in 20 years, making for disastrous spring and fall seasons in 2002.<br> <br> The market crunch has hit independent Louisiana shrimpers hard. Some captains keep their boats in port rather than buy fuel, ice and supplies, then get meager payouts for their catches.<br> <br> In Alabama, slack prices and poor availability of shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico led to declaration of an emergency earlier this year in Bayou LaBatre. Emergency financial aid was sent to the coastal community while state officials tried to assemble a $1 million aid package.<br>

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