Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry has issued a disaster declaration for the state's crawfish industry due to a severe shortage caused by last year's drought, extreme heat, saltwater intrusion on the Mississippi River, and a hard winter freeze. The shortage has led to significant price hikes, with restaurants now selling boiled crawfish for $10 to $12 per pound, compared to $3 to $5 per pound last year. The shortage is not only impacting Louisiana's economy but also its cultural heritage, as crawfish are a staple in Gulf Coast seafood boils and are used in dishes like crawfish etouffee, gumbos, and po' boy sandwiches. Louisiana typically generates 175 million to 200 million pounds of crawfish annually, contributing $500 million to the state's economy. However, the Louisiana State University's Agriculture Center estimates potential losses to the state's crawfish industry to be nearly $140 million. The disaster declaration, which allows for federal resources to be secured, was issued after a request from Louisiana's congressional delegation to unlock federal aid for farmers in the state. Louisiana's Agriculture Commissioner, Mike Strain, emphasized the importance of the crawfish industry to the state's economy and cultural heritage, stating that crawfish have been commercially harvested in Louisiana since at least the 1800s. This year, some Mardi Gras celebrations continued without crawfish, as they were scarce and unaffordable for many. Strain's letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted the unprecedented nature of the shortage, stating that crawfish are simply unavailable due to the sustained drought and freezing temperatures. Governor Landry emphasized the need for support for the crawfish industry, which he described as a vital part of Louisiana's way of life.