Seafood companies see more demand as customers stock up

TULSA, Okla. - As expected, the effects of the oil spill are finally reaching the dinner table.

Rising prices were evident Friday, as people lined up to buy Gulf seafood from the Fabian Seafood Company. The Galveston, Texas based company sells shrimp, fish and other underwater delicacies several times a year from a refrigerated truck in a parking lot near 41st and s. Memorial Avenue.

"I actually expected the price to be higher this time," said Mike Sharp, who bought several pounds of shrimp. "It's about the same as last time, maybe a couple dollars higher."

The price of shrimp went up by $2.50 per pound, according to manager Jose Gallardo. He says supply is down, but demand is not.

"The demand is a little up because people are panicking and buying more than they usually do," Gallardo said.

Businesses are also stocking up.

"Prices are going up," said Ed Richard, owner of Hebert's Specialty Meats. "We ordered, just last week, quite a bit of extra shrimp and oysters."

Richard paid 8% more for this order. His suppliers are running into problems, problems they didn't encounter when the spill first happened April 20.

"Times have changed, and they are telling us they're concerned about the effects of supply," Richard said.

Richard says he probably won't pass the cost onto customers, for now. Judging from the line at Fabian's, higher prices aren't enough to change people's diets.

"Maybe when it gets over $20 a pound," laughed Karen Vaughan, as she walked away with her bag of freshly purchased shrimp.