ASPA Member Feature: Bluewater Shrimp Company
August 18, 2022
David and Kim Chauvin are big visionaries. They currently own three businesses in Dulac, Louisiana: David Chauvin Seafood Company, a fuel/ice dock, supply house, retail location and give you a 1.5-hour tour of the facilities where you take a deeper look into the domestic shrimp industry; Bluewater, an IQF processing plant; and Mariah Jade, a dock and specialty processing plant for hand-peeled shrimp.
The core of their success is a longstanding foundation of faith that encourages them to keep moving forward in an industry that experiences its fair share of ups and downs. Their steadfast focus is fueled by optimism to keep building bigger and better to ensure the Chauvins, a fifth-generation seafood family, continue strongly on a path of success for future generations.
The husband-and-wife team are partners in life and partners in business, and for the high school sweethearts who have been married for over 30 years, a commitment of blood, sweat, and tears have richly paid off with an established operation and character reputation built on honesty, quality, and loyalty.
“My husband was a commercial fisherman for 17 years, so he has an advantage in that he knows all the fishermen around here,” Kim says while looking at the shrimp boats docked at the company that bears her husband’s name. “He has worked closely with them and they trust him. He understands what it means to be a fisherman, and that’s why a lot of them come here to do business.”
David’s background in the industry is laced with abundant generational blessings of seafood heritage. His great grandfather, grandfather, and father were all commercial fishermen, so it was natural for David to sail the same path.
Some of his best times as a child were spent on a boat watching his grandfather and father harvest the gulf for shrimp. Some of his best memories as a teenager were working alongside his skilled father to build a steel hull without a blueprint. Some of his best moments as a father have been carrying on the fishing tradition with his own family.
“Growing up in the industry is something I enjoyed so much,” David says. “I have such a respect for my father and I enjoyed the time we spent together. Two years prior to getting out of high school, he asked me if this was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When I said yes, he said, ‘Well, we need to build you a boat so that when you get out of school, you can support your family.’”
For more information on Bluewater Shrimp Company, visit their Processor Page!
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