How Much Does a Shrimp Boat Cost? Everything You Need to Know

Shrimp is one of the most popular types of seafood around the world. In 2019 alone the shrimp industry was worth a whopping $31.6 billion. With demand growing every year so too does the shrimp boat industry that supplies this tasty crustacean. But how much does one of these specialized vessels really cost? Let’s take a closer look.

What is a Shrimp Boat?

A shrimp boat is a fishing vessel that is specifically equipped to catch shrimp. While there’s no single boat design that defines a “shrimp boat”, they are most commonly fishing trawlers that have been outfitted with specialized shrimping gear.

The most distinctive feature of a shrimp boat is the large outrigger arms on either side of the deck. These arms extend horizontally and have fishing nets hanging from them. On deck you’ll find powerful winches used to lower, drag, and retrieve these nets, which are called “trawls”. Once the net is hauled in, the catch is dumped on deck where the crew sorts through everything.

As long as a boat can pull trawls to catch shrimp, it can be classified as a shrimp boat. The gear makes the boat, not the hull design.

How Shrimp Boats Work

Shrimp boats rely on a method called “trawling” to catch their namesake crustaceans. Trawling involves dragging a large, weighted net along the seafloor. The bottom of the net is lined with chains or heavy weights so that it digs into the sediment as it’s pulled. Floats on the top keep the net’s opening wide.

This trawl net looks like a giant sock. As the boat motors along, the net funnels shrimp and other marine life into the closed “bag” at the end. When trawling in healthy waters, shrimp make up the bulk of the catch. But other fish, crabs, shells, and debris also get swept up incidentally.

When the net is full, hydraulic winches haul it back onto the boat. The contents spill onto the deck, where crew members sort through everything. The shrimp are transferred into an ice hold for storage, while the rest is discarded.

A small 3-person crew can harvest up to 16,000 pounds of shrimp per trip. Larger commercial shrimpers can bring in a staggering 50,000 pound catch! With Americans consuming over a billion pounds yearly, these impressive hauls are needed to meet demand.

Duration of Shrimping Trips

Unlike crabbing, which involves setting lines that soak for days or weeks, shrimping is more of an active, real-time pursuit. The boats don’t spend nearly as long at sea per trip.

Some shrimping trips may only last around 12 hours or so. Occasionally boats will stay out for 24-48 hours, but it’s rare to be gone for more than 2-3 days. The reason trips are short is twofold:

• If shrimp aren’t being caught, the boat will return early rather than waste time and money.

• If the boat maxes out its storage, the crew will head back to port to offload the catch.

The sporadic nature of shrimping means optimal trip length varies day to day. As soon as the hold is full, it’s back to shore for unloading.

Cost to Buy a Shrimp Boat

Since any boat can become a shrimp boat with the right gear, there is a huge range in price. Factors like size, condition, and equipment affect cost significantly.

For an old, small, indepedent shrimp boat, you might pay as little as $30,000 to $40,000. But a brand new vessel purpose-built for today’s commercial shrimping can exceed $500,000.

On the low end, some classic shrimp boats can be as small as 25 feet long. These types of vessels have been used in the industry for about a century. Their age accounts for the lower prices on the used market.

In contrast, new commercial shrimp boats can be 100 feet long or more. That’s why the upper range is so high. The average modern shrimp boat runs 55 to 78 feet.

Let’s break down the price range a bit more:

• Small, used: $30,000 – $75,000
• Mid-size, used: $75,000 – $200,000
• Large, used: $200,000 – $400,000
• New commercial boats: $400,000 – $500,000+

Keep in mind that price depends heavily on features, capacity, electronics, mechanical condition, and overall quality. There can be great variation even within these ranges.

Number of Shrimp Boats Worldwide

It’s challenging to pin down global numbers given the fragmented, regional nature of the industry. There’s no overarching international shrimp boat authority. However, we can look at stats from certain countries:

• South Carolina previously had over 700 shrimp boats registered as of 2002, but that number has declined over the past two decades.

• As of 2019, Georgia had 200 shrimping vessels remaining, down from around 1,500 in the early 1990s.

• The Gulf of Mexico, Central America, and northern coasts of South America also have major shrimping fleets.

• Asia, Africa, India, and Australia support robust regional shrimp fisheries as well, although data is lacking.

• Even Canada and some Northern European nations like the UK have limited shrimping operations.

So while an exact worldwide count is elusive, it’s clear that thousands of shrimp boats operate globally. The industry remains an important economic resource in coastal communities around the world.

Do Shrimp Boats Use Bait?

Some small scale shrimping involves using bait to attract the crustaceans. Shrimp aren’t too picky, so a range of bait will work, including fish meal, cat food, corn meal, and more.

The bait is formed into balls using a binder like clay. These are tossed at specific marked spots in the water column. As shrimp congregate to feed, a net is used to scoop them up.

However, baiting is a niche technique. Most commercial shrimping relies entirely on trawler nets dragged behind the boats. No bait required!

Key Takeaways on Shrimp Boat Cost

• Shrimp boats can be any size vessel outfitted with trawls and gear to catch shrimp. Prices vary wildly based on boat size and features.

• Used shrimp boats can cost as little as $30,000 or as much as $500,000+ for a new mega-trawler. Mid-size used boats average $75,000-$400,000.

• There are thousands of shrimp boats operating globally, but no definitive worldwide count exists.

• Shrimp boats don’t stay at sea for extended periods like crabbers. 1-3 days is typical.

• Commercial shrimping involves trawls, not bait. But bait shrimping is done on a small scale.

So if you’ve ever wondered “how much is a shrimp boat?” or “how much does it cost to buy a shrimp boat?”, this overview covers the key considerations. While not cheap, shrimping remains a viable fishing career for those willing to invest in one of these specialized vessels. With some grit and business savvy, your boat could carve out a profitable niche in this bustling global industry.