Last mentioned: Mar 26, 2026
Labor Pinch Reported
Industry leaders report severe shortages as visa caps prevent workers from arriving for peak processing.
Harvest Commencement
Crawfish harvest begins in earnest across Louisiana ponds.
Peak Season Filing
Applications open for the second half of the fiscal year, critical for the crawfish industry.
H-2B Filing Opens
First half of fiscal year visa applications begin for winter seasonal work.
The Louisiana crawfish industry is grappling with severe labor shortages as federal limits on H-2B visas restrict the influx of essential foreign seasonal workers. This regulatory bottleneck threatens the viability of the state's $400 million industry during its peak 2026 harvest season.