BROWNSVILLE – The shrimping fleet at the Brownsville port-of-entry blessed their ships Tuesday.

The blessing of the shrimp fleet is a long time tradition; they’re hoping for a good year, but challenging conditions are already starting to show.

The Head of the Texas Shrimpers Association expects trouble because there has been more rain flowing through rivers, which eventually lead out into the Gulf.

Andrea Hance with the Texas Shrimp Association says that could cause the shrimp's life cycle to move faster, causing the shrimp to come out prematurely.

State biologist, Tony Reisinger, says shrimp could be subject to predators or may just not be that big.

As they blessed the fleet Tuesday, their main concern was the shrimp being pushed back out to the Gulf from the bay when they’re too young.

"We won't know till we get out there and see," says Hance.

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