By Diana Lucio Reporter
.
Published: Sun, May 04, 2008 - 10:15 pm
Diana Lucio
The event dates back centuries when fishermen asked to be blessed before setting sail, for the shrimping season."We just come and get blessed and hopefully we'll have a good shrimping season and everything you know, that's really what it's all about, "Said Barry Deakle, a shrimper.
This year Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb led the blessing for St. Margaret Catholic Church. Following tradition, Lipscomb tossed a wreath into the water to remember those who have perished at sea, while others gathered in prayer."It's hard on them, fuel is so high,shrimp prices are down because of imports, you know it's a hard life, but it's a good life and they're good people,"Said Christine Christman who helped organize this year's event.
On average it takes around thirty-thousand dollars worth of diesel fuel to tug a shrimp boat. But Deakle says this season there is more at stake. "Last year it was $2.40..$2.50..we could deal with that. This year it's like $3.60..$3.70. And the price of shrimp is right where they've been that last 4 or 5 years,"Said Deakle.
The Mobile Bay shrimping season begins in June and lasts until November.
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