Author Ben Williams is a board member of St. Johns Riverkeeper.
River Shrimp »OVER THE years the question has remained the same, “Are those river shrimp?” But the reason for the question has changed. Almost 30 years ago, when I first worked in a fish market, the customers wanted river shrimp. They knew that shrimp from the river had a different texture and a slightly different taste to them. The customer didn’t know that what they called river shrimp were actually juvenile Atlantic White shrimp or that the slightly different taste and texture was the result of the shrimp living in, what was many times, almost freshwater. They just knew they liked them. Today our customers will ask the same question, but for a significantly different reason; they don’t want river shrimp. They’re skeptical of the safety of www.waterkeeper.org
By Ben Williams
river shrimp. They’re skeptical of any seafood coming from our river. That’s a sad thing, for our St. Johns is still a magnificent and productive estuary. It nurtures not only shrimp but many other commercially valuable fish and crustaceans. Just as importantly though, our river also nurtures and sustains the fisherman who have traditionally, and sustainably, harvested them for our tables. Having been a commercial fisherman, and for the last 25 years worked in and owned fish markets, it’s been clear to me for a long time that if we are to sustain, not only the fish and shrimp and crabs, but the fisherman who harvest them, then we need to protect our river. When you harvest seafood for a
When you harvest seafood for a living, it becomes quite clear that if the underlying environment is not healthy, your economic prospects aren’t going to be healthy either.
Spring 2007 Waterkeeper Magazine
49
