 |
|
|
The gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus ) industry in coastal Mississippi produced 5,000-6,000 tons of fish solubles in 2002. Production of fish solubles in 1998 from the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was 15,627.5 tons. Although a market exists (shrimp feed additive, liquid fertilizer) for this material, it is currently considered a by-product of minimal ($0.15/lb) value. In addition, industrial and environmental costs are incurred for the monthly disposal (deep sea dumping) of this product. The Mississippi oyster (Crassostrea virginica) processing industry accumulated 7,298 yd3 of oyster shell as a by-product from the processing efforts of 2000. The market for this material consists of state by-back for re-seeding the natural oyster reefs, an ingredient in chicken feed, and as road bed material. The oyster shell is currently considered a by-product of minimal ($10/yd3) ($0.01/lb) value. There is a need in existing markets for more effective and/or longer lasting slow release fish/shellfish bait-attractants. Existing markets include, but are not limited to, the recreational and commercial harvests of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) and red swamp crawfish (Procambarus clarkii). The volume of menhaden that was harvested from the Gulf of Mexico and sold as bait (primarily for blue crab and crawfish fisheries) in 1999 was 9,777.5 metric tons. This volume sold at 2003 retail prices would be valued at $6,500,000. In this research, the different bait-attractant mixture ratios (BAMR) will be evaluated using commercial crab trapping practices. The specific objectives of this research are as follows: 1) to compare the dissolution rates of four different BAMR, and 2) to evaluate the catch rates of four BAMR using commercial harvesting practices of the blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fishery. The standard bait-attractant used in recreational/commercially harvested crabs is frozen whole menhaden. The current market rate for frozen whole menhaden is $0.30/lb. The standard bait-attractant in the commercial harvest of crawfish is an extruded pellet. The current market rate for this product is $0.20/lb. The combined cost of materials used in production the bait-attractant that will be evaluated is $0.08/lb. Initial results from a pilot study, conducted on the recreational harvest of the blue crab, indicated that the bait-attractant did exhibit attractant properties. In inference, the fish solubles bait-attractant caught more crabs per gram of bait-attractant used than the control. In addition, the treatment bait-attractant fished longer than the control bait-attractant. Initial results, in the recreational crab fishery, indicated a reduction in overhead costs for fisherman through reduced bait-attractant costs, decreased bait handling investments, and suggested an increase in harvest. The successful retailing of this bait-attractant would create new demand for by-products of the seafood processing industry. In addition, this product would decrease menhaden industrial disposal (deep-sea dumping) costs. |