Louisiana
Crawfish shortage is affecting restaurants and consumers in Northeast Louisiana
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Crawfish is scarce this year, and it is hitting restaurants down to the consumer.
Experts said last summer’s drought and recent winter weather are to blame for the current crawfish shortage in Louisiana. Claw Daddy’s Crawfish and Oyster Bar in Monroe is one of the many restaurants in Northeast Louisiana taking a financial hit.
Cook, Luke Parrish, said around this same time last year, they were paying half of what they are now. He said the restaurant’s current sales are down by 71,000 dollars compared to last year. If there is any crawfish available in April, he said their sales will still be down by 725,000 dollars.
Not only is the shortage affecting restaurant sales, but Parrish said they had to lay some employees off.
“We trained 15 new staff members full-time for several weeks. So 18, 19, 20 thousand dollars in training then we had to lay them off. We went from having 71 employees to now 47 employees. The tips for the servers, we’re talking 19 thousand dollars in tips, up to 57 thousand dollars last year, so it’s taking money out of their pockets that they depend on,” said Parrish.
Parrish said if they do have any crawfish, prices will spike. He said to make up for the shortage, the restaurant is selling steaks. With how scarce crawfish are, Parrish said they will not be selling any until the supply improves.
“Let’s say we ask for 3 thousand pounds, which is about what we sell in a week, and usually they deliver 150 or 200 pounds. Well, we tried it twice. We sold at 407 one day, and we sold out at 411 the next day. So we just don’t do it. I don’t want people to drive all the way out here and be disappointed. If we can get a thousand or so pounds, and last an hour or two then we’ll do it. But for 10 minutes we’re just going to wait until it’s available,” said Parrish.
Parrish said hopefully there will be crawfish available in late February, and that there will be a better season next year. He said for the time being, oysters are a great alternative and this is the best season to get them.
Copyright 2024 KNOE. All rights reserved.
A private organization entrusted with money intended to protect Louisiana from the cost of abandoned oil and gas wells used funds to make below-market loans benefiting a senior state regulator, his re…
Already an INSIDER? Sign in.
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A driver died from a gunshot wound after a Louisiana State Police car chase in New Orleans Saturday evening (June 20), but troopers say they did not fire the gun.
Troop NOLA confirmed the car chase ended near Franklin Avenue and North Miro Street Saturday. Troopers said they found the driver shot and brought them to the hospital, where that person died.
The driver’s identity has not been released.
A Troop NOLA spokesperson said he could not confirm if anyone else was in the car, if anyone has been arrested, or if troopers found a gun.
A spokesperson said more details will be released as a state police force investigation continues.
Troop NOLA is a special investigation unit tasked with proactive policing, traffic enforcement and crime reduction.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Shelby Bordelon of Iberville Parish was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 Saturday night in Monroe, earning the title and a $15,000 scholarship. Bordelon, a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University, said the role is about more than pageantry, emphasizing the yearlong service mission tied to the crown.
“Part of the mission of this organization is the service behind it,” Bordelon said. “And the service is so important, you are serving your state for a year… having the opportunities to connect with others… to continue making an impact and leaving my mark on others as well.”
Bordelon, who finished first runner-up in last year’s competition, said the moment her name was called as the winner still hasn’t fully sunk in.
“It was every emotion you could think of that was running through my mind at that moment,” she said, adding she focused on preparation and perspective this year. “I really wanted to go into this year with no regrets… just really trusting in that mindset and that plan.”
Bordelon said she hopes to use her platform to raise awareness for her nonprofit, Claire’s Promise, which focuses on combating drunk driving.
You can learn more about the nonprofit here. She will now represent Louisiana at the Miss America Pageant, which begins in late August in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
-
New York31 minutes agoVideo: Historic Brooklyn Church Destroyed in Fire
-
Los Angeles, Ca36 minutes ago2 killed in high-speed crash on Mulholland Highway
-
Detroit, MI58 minutes agoMan armed with gun shot by police in downtown Detroit ahead of fireworks show, police say
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSan Francisco home with a history of squatters hits the market for $1.3 million
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoMiami Heat slip behind Boston Celtics in Giannis Antetokounmpo race
-
Dallas, TX1 hour ago1 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp Battle That Could Make Or Break 2026 Season
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoWith Columbia Threadneedle out, Boston Triathlon director is looking for a new sponsor – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO1 hour agoDenver transfers $3 million from its contingency fund to pay out settlements
