Shrimpers Squeezed by Fuel, Imports, and Federal Cuts

South Carolina fishermen face rising diesel costs, cheaper imported shrimp, and reduced federal ocean monitoring ahead of the midterm elections.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Inflation

Flat-color editorial illustration of stacked empty shrimp crates and coiled netting on a grey dock above a marsh horizon, evoking pressure on South Carolina's shrimping industry. — South Carolina shrimpers face diesel prices that climbed from $2.71 to $5.99 a gallon this year while cheaper imports and proposed NOAA ocean-monitoring cuts squeeze the industry. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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South Carolina shrimpers are struggling as diesel prices climbed from $2.71 to $5.99 per gallon this year while lower-priced imports have pushed domestic fishermen out of business. The administration imposed tariffs on imported shrimp in July, but industry members say the pricing benefit has been minimal so far.

Why it matters

Fishermen rely on federal forecasts and data to decide when offshore work is safe, so workforce cuts at NOAA affect their ability to operate. Lower-priced imports have made it difficult for domestic shrimpers to compete, contributing to closures in historic fishing areas.

Diesel prices in the region climbed from $2.71 per gallon at the start of the year to $5.99 by late September, and the U.S. imported about 1.59 billion pounds of frozen warmwater shrimp in 2025. NOAA's workforce has shrunk by roughly 20 percent since January 2025, and the effect of the July tariffs on domestic prices remains unclear.

The players

Mark Marhefka

A South Carolina shrimper who has worked the fishery for nearly five decades and speaks to the struggles facing domestic fishermen.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the federal agency whose forecasts and ocean data guide fishing operations and whose workforce has been reduced.

The details

Mark Marhefka, who has been shrimping for nearly five decades, says fishermen depend on NOAA forecasts to determine safe conditions for offshore work. The proposed budget for the next fiscal year would further trim ocean monitoring funding and eliminate a regional ocean observations program.

January 2025: NOAA workforce reductions began under the current administration.
2025: The U.S. imported about 1.59 billion pounds of frozen warmwater shrimp.
Start of 2026: Diesel prices were $2.71 per gallon.
July 2026: The administration imposed tariffs on imported shrimp.
Late September 2026: Diesel prices climbed to $5.99 per gallon.

Season Trajectory

The squeeze on South Carolina shrimpers follows NOAA's roughly 20 percent workforce reduction since January 2025, which weakens the forecasting that fishermen rely on. The July tariffs and proposed budget cuts will determine whether the domestic shrimp fishery stabilizes or continues to lose ground to imports.

Diesel at nearly $6 per gallon raises the cost of every offshore trip, and those costs feed into the price of shrimp sold at the dock and in grocery stores. Households may see imported shrimp remain cheap while local catches become scarcer, depending on how the tariffs and budget decisions play out.

The takeaway

Diesel costs, import competition, and federal data cuts are compounding pressure on domestic fishermen at the same time. Consumers who prefer locally caught shrimp may need to pay closer attention to origin labels as the market adjusts.

What happens next

The proposed budget for the next fiscal year would further trim ocean monitoring funding, a decision that will shape NOAA's capacity for future forecasts.