For the 10th year on the Tuesday after Mardi Gras, Louisiana officially kicked off crawfish season by pardoning one lucky mudbug. Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser granted the reprieve yesterday.
“With the power vested in me, as Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Louisiana, do hereby pardon and declare free, Tony the Crawfish,” Nungesser proclaimed.
Tony the crawfish, named for the legendary Tony Chachere, will live out his time at Chicot State Park in Ville Platte.
Barry Toups, the owner of Crawfish Haven, caught and selected the lucky crawfish, and Samantha Carroll with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board read the proclamation.
“And whereas, Tony shall be free to live a life in fresh water, no hotter than that is found in our swamps, and water that is without spices, seasoning, potatoes, onions, and garlic,” Carroll proclaimed.
Many people have been enjoying crawfish for several weeks, but the season officially got underway this week. And as the weather warms up, Todd Fontenot with the LSU Ag Center says supply will go up, and prices will go down.
“Depending on our temperature and the conditions, how fast they grow, is all determined by the weather. And the warmer it is, then naturally the faster they’re able to grow, because they’re going to move more, they’re going to eat more, and they’re going to grow more,” Fontenot explained.
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