Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio displays a crawfish harvested in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Colin Lawson walks between his family's crawfish ponds in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Juan Antonio harvests crawfish traps in a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Alan Lawson enters the Bocage Crawfish processing facility in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A worker peels crawfish in the Bocage Crawfish processing facility in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Workers walk between buildings at the Bocage Crawfish processing facility in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Alan Lawson walks through a room that normally has 110 workers in the Bocage Crawfish processing facility in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
A crawfish boat harvests a crawfish pond in Crowley, La., Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephen Smith)
Audio By Carbonatix
5:57 AM on Thursday, March 26
By GERALD HERBERT and STEPHEN SMITH
CROWLEY, La. (AP) — Spring is peak crawfish season in Louisiana, an industry worth about $300 million.
However, the industry is struggling this year due to a shortage of seasonal foreign workers, and some are blaming President Donald Trump’s administration for what they say has been a failure to authorize enough guest workers in time.
Large-scale crawfish producers use guest workers, many from Mexico and Central America, to shell and freeze the freshwater catch that is often pulled from swampy rice fields — physically demanding tasks that American workers are generally unwilling to do.
___
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Stigall’s shows are equal parts hilarity and desk-pounding monologues with >>Stigall’s shows are equal parts hilarity and desk-pounding monologues with healthy doses of skepticism and sarcasm. Above all else, Chris’s abiding faith in Christ is what guides him. His interviews with everyone from athletes and actors to . . . <<
There is something about Joe that makes you feel at home. Wake up with Joe and >>There is something about Joe that makes you feel at home. Wake up with Joe and his crew every weekday morning, as they laugh a little and tell stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Producer Joe Sibilia joins in along with newsman Al Gattullo and . . . <<
Mike Gallagher is one of the most listened-to radio talk show hosts in America. >>Mike Gallagher is one of the most listened-to radio talk show hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is . . . . <<
Salem Media, our partners, and affiliates use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, personalize site content, and deliver relevant video recommendations. By using this website and continuing to navigate, you consent to our use of such technologies and the sharing of video viewing activity with third-party partners in accordance with the Video Privacy Protection Act and other privacy laws.Privacy Policy
