Overall, most dealers have been involved in some aspect of the commercial shrimp fishery longer than they had been shrimp/seafood dealers.  A majority (51%) of dealers reported operating their primary business facility for 1 - 10 years with a median of 10 years overall.

Over three-quarters (77%) of the dealers reported they carry liability insurance on their place of business while the rest are apparently unprotected.

A majority (59%) of dealers reported they did not earn any income from work other than selling fish or fish-related products in the previous twelve months.  A majority (57%) of dealers with a spouse reported that their spouse had not earned income from work other than selling fish or fish-related products in the previous twelve months.

A majority (52%) of dealers had health insurance for themselves and their family; it is notable, however, that 32% reported carrying no health insurance for themselves and their family.

On a five-point Likert type scale ranging from not at all satisfied to extremely satisfied, most dealers reported they were only moderately satisfied with each of the following statements: “seafood dealing as an occupation” (35%), “seafood dealing as a way of life” (30%), “fisheries management in Texas bays” (38%), “fisheries management in Texas Gulf waters” (33%), “amount of seafood sold in 2001” (33%), and “size of seafood sold in 2001" (40%).

Most dealers agreed with four of the six attitudinal statements presented to them.  Most agreed with each of the following statements: “imported shrimp cause dockside prices to be lower” (32%), “my operation is profitable” (43%), “the environment affects shrimp populations more than commercial harvest” (34%), and “harvesting shrimp at small sizes is hurting industry profits” (32%).  Most were neutral on the following two statements: “there are too many shrimpers” (48%) and “the limited entry shrimp program is reducing shrimping effort” (50%).

When asked whether they would encourage young people to enter the seafood dealing business, a majority (69%) reported they would not do so.  A majority (71%) of dealers expect to be a commercial seafood dealer in four years.

Most (21%) reported gross annual households between $20,000 and $39,000 with another 17% between $40,000 and $59,000.

Most (20%) Texas shrimp fishermen have been shrimping for 16-20 years with a median number of 20 years.  Most (20%) fishermen had a total number of shrimping days between 1 and 50, with a median of 120 days shrimping.

Most (47%) Texas shrimp fishermen reported that they did not have health insurance, 41% reported that they had health insurance for themselves and their family.

When asked their opinions (from strongly disagree to strongly agree) on several statements regarding shrimping issues, most strongly agreed with the following statements: “Pollution in saltwater bays is hurting shrimp populations” (41%), “Imported shrimp cause dock side prices to be lower” (57%), “Not allowing shrimping in nursery areas will allow shrimp to grow to a more valuable size” (40%), “The environment affects shrimp populations more than commercial harvest” (34%), and “Harvesting shrimp at small sizes is hurting industry profits” (30%).  Most agreed to the statements “Shrimp trawling does not harm bottom habitat” (35%), “The limited entry shrimp program is reducing shrimping effort” (34%), and “My operation is profitable” (37%).  One statement drew most to a neutral stance, “There are too many shrimpers” (26%).

A majority (59%) of fishermen did not earn any income from work other than shrimping “since this time last year.”  There were nearly equal proportions of fishermen that indicated that their wife (if married) earned income (44%) or did not earn income (43%) from work other than shrimping “since this time last year.”  Most (38%) reported that between 91% and 100% of their household’s gross annual income comes from shrimping activities.

When asked about their satisfaction to a number of statements (from not at all satisfied to extremely satisfied), most were extremely satisfied with the following statements: “shrimping as an occupation” (29%), and “shrimping as a way of life” (32%).  Most (28%) were moderately satisfied with the statement “size of shrimp caught in 2001.”  Most were not at all satisfied with the following statements: “shrimp management in Texas bays” (44%), “shrimp management in Texas Gulf waters” (37%), and “amount of shrimp caught in 2001” (44%).

A majority (83%) indicated that they would not encourage young people to enter the shrimping business and that they expect to be shrimping in four years (77%).

A majority (63%) of fishermen do not carry insurance on their primary boat.

When asked to think back two years ago, to October 1999, a majority (56%) of fishermen responded that they fished about the same number of days.  A majority (59%) also responded that they did not earn income from work other than shrimping.  Most (45%) responded that their wife (if married) did not earn income from work other than shrimping in 1999.  Nearly equal percentages responded that they either had no insurance or insurance for themselves and their family (44% and 46% respectively) in 1999.  When asked two of the same scale items as previously while referring to 1999 (on a scale from not at all satisfied to extremely satisfied), most were moderately satisfied with the statements: “amount of shrimp caught in 1999” (24%), and “size of shrimp caught in 1999” (30%).

Most (35%) shrimp fishermen have a gross household income between $20,000 and $39,999.