September 23, 2025 — The following was released by SeaD Consulting:
In Northeast Louisiana, where shrimp is a staple on local menus, diners are being misled about what’s on their plates.Genetic testing of shrimp dishes from 24 Monroe and Ruston area restaurants found that 0% complied with Louisiana’s seafood labeling laws to identify imported shrimp, despite menus and staff frequently claiming “Gulf” or domestic wild-caught origins.
SEAD Consulting, using its field-based RIGHTTest™ genetic technology, conducted testing from September 11–14, 2025.
Key Findings
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11 of 24 dishes (46%) contained authentic domestic wild-caught shrimp
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13 of 24 dishes (54%) contained imported, farm-raised shrimp
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7 of 13 menus explicitly said “Gulf” or domestic shrimp were being served
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5 of 13 had staff explicitly assure customers the dish used Gulf or domestic shrimp
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1 of 13 admitted to serving imported shrimp—but had no signage complying with Louisiana’s labeling laws
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0 of 13 had required signage indicating imported product
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That equates to a 0% compliance rate with Louisiana’s imported seafood labeling laws.
“This isn’t about forcing restaurants to change their menus—it’s about them standing by their word,” said Lance Nacio, Louisiana shrimper and Louisiana Shrimp Task Force board member. “Diners deserve to get what they pay for, and shrimpers deserve their fair market share. Right now, both are being cheated.”
Restaurants Where Authentic Domestic Wild-Caught Shrimp Was Found
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Belle’s Ole South Diner — 4624 Cypress St, West Monroe, LA 71291
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Captain Avery Seafood & Specialty Meats — 2607 Ferrand St, Monroe, LA 71201
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Catfish Charlies — 2329 Louisville Ave, Monroe, LA 71201
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Fontenot’s Cajun Way — 436 Desiard St, Monroe, LA 71201
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Golden Pier Seafood — 1114 N 7th St, West Monroe, LA 71291
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Kravin’s — 705 Winnsboro Rd, Monroe, LA 71202
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Mohawk Tavern — 704 Louisville Ave, Monroe, LA 71201
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Ponchatoulas — 109 E Park Ave, Ruston, LA 71270
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Scott’s Catfish and Seafood — 2812 Cypress St, West Monroe, LA 71291
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Trio’s Ruston — 101 Pelican Blvd, Ruston, LA 71270
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Warehouse No. 1 — 1 Olive St, Monroe, LA 71201
“We work hard to serve the finest, all-natural ingredients to our customers,” said Trio’s Ruston Restaurant Owner Alex Van Benthuysen. “That includes locally harvested, wild-caught Gulf shrimp. You can definitively taste the difference between wild-caught and imported shrimp. We also want to support our community, just as they support us. That said, we’re only as good as our suppliers are, so there is a lot of trust in the equation.”
While misrepresentation can happen anywhere along the supply chain, genetic testing of what ends up in the dish is essential to enforcing Louisiana’s labeling laws and restoring trust.
What Locals Can Do
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Ask your server directly where the shrimp comes from at restaurants
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Ask to see the box or packaging the shrimp came in if in doubt
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Look for “wild-caught Gulf shrimp” on menus
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Report suspected seafood fraud to local health authorities
About the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force
The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force advises the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and related agencies on protecting and promoting the state’s wild shrimp industry. The group works to strengthen transparency, local economies, and seafood quality for consumers.
About SEAD Consulting
SEAD (Seafood Development) Consulting blends science and policy to defend seafood authenticity. Its RIGHTTest™ program is revolutionizing how consumers, restaurants, and regulators verify species in real time to combat fraud and protect coastal livelihoods.
Visit www.seadconsulting.com to learn more or report suspected mislabeling.
Disclaimer: SEAD’s testing and reporting is intended to be used as an investigatory tool to assist the restaurant industry’s fight against seafood mislabeling. It is not intended for use in any legal proceedings, nor may SEAD’s data, testing, or reporting be used in any legal proceeding without the express written authorization of SEAD.