May 29, 2026 — The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to buy shrimp from the Southern state.
The lawmakers asked the federal government to purchase shrimp landed in Louisiana under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which authorizes the USDA to purchase surplus goods to support domestic producers and use the food for federal nutrition programs, such as school lunches.
May 27, 2026 — Louisiana lawmakers are pushing to strengthen the state’s seafood labeling laws, passing legislation to prevent the comingling of imported and domestic shrimp.
HB 857 would require all comingled seafood to be labeled as such – retailers presenting comingled seafood as solely locally-sourced would be fined USD 15,000 (EUR 12,904). Fines would rise to USD 25,000 (EUR 21,506) and USD 50,000 (EUR 43,013) for a second and third offense, respectively.
May 18, 2026 — U.S. Representative Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) has asked the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to release more temporary worker visas for his state’s shrimp industry, which is facing labor shortages ahead of the upcoming commercial season.
“Shrimpers from my congressional district and across the Gulf region applied for the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers program but have not secured the necessary visas for the upcoming shrimp season, which begins on 15 July,” Gonzalez said in a 13 May letter. “The domestic shrimping industry is already facing an existential crisis due to unfair competition from foreign imports, combined with severe labor shortages and increased fuel prices. Without immediate action from the administration, this industry will suffer irreparable harm if they cannot employ the workers they need for the upcoming commercial shrimp season.”
May 13, 2026 — The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Save Our Shrimpers (SOS) Act, legislation that directs U.S. representatives at international monetary institutions to oppose funding for foreign shrimp aquaculture and processing.
“For far too long, foreign shrimp has flooded our markets while U.S. tax dollars have been used to subsidize overseas shrimp operations, which are putting our domestic shrimpers out of business,” U.S. Representative Troy Nehls (R-Texas) said in a release. “My bipartisan legislation puts an end to that by requiring United States representatives at international financial institutions to oppose the use of American taxpayer money to fund foreign shrimp farming and processing. This is a huge win for American shrimpers and a clear win for the America First agenda. Today, the U.S. House of Representatives stood up for the hardworking shrimpers in Texas and across America’s coastal communities who depend on a strong domestic shrimping industry.”
May 7, 2026 — Both bodies of the South Carolina state legislature have passed a bill requiring country-of-origin labeling for all shrimp sales in the state, though differences between the two versions will need to be sorted out before the bill becomes law.
On 14 April, the South Carolina House of Representatives passed HB4248, legislation requiring all shrimp sold in the state to have a clear label noting its country of origin.
April 30, 2026 — The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) has announced it will integrate living wages as a formal criterion into its member standards.
SSP, which is an organization that brings together firms committed to improving shrimp sustainability standards, will look to implement this measure within the operations of its member base and progressively expand its application to other stages of the global shrimp-farming value chain, it said in a release without specifying a timeline.
April 17, 2026 — The following was released by the Southern Shrimp Alliance:
Today, the Southern Shrimp Alliance welcomed Representative Julia Letlow’s (R-LA) introduction of the Buy American Seafood Act, which would prohibit Federal agencies from procuring seafood for covered food programs unless the seafood is domestically sourced. The bill would also incorporate domestic seafood requirements into child nutrition programs.
“American children deserve nutritious seafood proudly produced right here under stringent U.S. food safety standards and enforcement. Congresswoman Letlow’s bill delivers exactly that — and in doing so, it supports America’s coastal economies and fishing families,” said Blake Price, director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
March 31, 2026 — The following was released by SeaD Consulting:
SeaD Consulting today announced the results of genetic testing using its Rapid ID Genetic High-accuracy Test (RIGHTTest) conducted on shrimp dishes served at restaurants across the US 190 Corridor in Louisiana. Testing, conducted during Lenten season—a period of heightened seafood consumption in the region’s deeply rooted Catholic community—revealed that 50% of sampled restaurants (12 of 24) were serving imported/farm-raised shrimp. Of these, 38% of sampled restaurants (9 of 24) explicitly claimed to be serving American wild-caught shrimp.
Starting from Krotz Springs through Opelousas, visiting towns like Eunice and ending in Kinder, the corridor was selected to demonstrate what a typical road trip through Louisiana, with seafood restaurant stops along the way, might look like to a consumer. The area is known for its strong Louisiana heritage and tradition of homestyle cooking, such as plate lunches, and sees a surge in seafood demand during Lent. Shrimp dishes—particularly po’boys and fried platters—are widely served in gas stations, small cafés, and local eateries where consumers expect authentic, locally sourced shrimp.
Between the sampling dates of March 17–19, 2026, SeaD teams conducted random genetic testing of 24 restaurants along the 190 Corridor. Samples were analyzed to determine whether shrimp marketed or described as American wild-caught shrimp were authentic.
Key Findings
12 of 24 restaurants (50%) were confirmed to be serving American wild-caught shrimp
12 of 24 restaurants (50%) were serving imported/farm-raised shrimp while implying or representing American wild-caught origin
9 of 24 restaurants (38%) explicitly claimed to be serving American wild-caught shrimp either through staff verbalization or menu description
3 of 24 restaurants (12%) correctly identified they were serving imported/farm-raised shrimp
These findings highlight a significant gap between consumer expectations and verified sourcing in a community where seafood plays both a cultural and religious role. Testing occurred during Lent, when consumer reliance on seafood increases significantly.
Louisiana Labeling Law Compliance Concerns
Louisiana law requires restaurants serving imported shrimp to clearly disclose that information to consumers through signage or menu language.
SeaD’s findings indicate widespread non-compliance among the restaurants found to be serving imports. In multiple cases, shrimp was marketed, labeled, or verbally represented as American wild-caught despite genetic testing confirming imported/farm-raised origin—creating a high likelihood of consumer deception during a peak seafood season.
Andrew Blanchard, Head of the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force, said, “With Lent being one of the most important seafood seasons in Louisiana, it is critical that consumers can trust what they are being served. When imported shrimp is passed off as local catch—especially in communities like Eunice where seafood traditions run deep—it harms both consumers and the livelihoods of Louisiana shrimpers. We are prepared to share these findings with the Louisiana Department of Health for further review.”
Restaurants Identified in Testing
The following 190 Corridor establishments were found to be serving American wild-caught shrimp:
B + B Boiling Shack — 17607 US-190, Port Barre, LA 70577
Billy’s Boudin & Cracklins — 24467 US-190, Krotz Springs, LA 70750
Crawfish Corner — 529 S Union St, Opelousas, LA 70570
DC’s Sports Bar & Steakhouse — 1601 W Laurel Ave, Eunice, LA 70535
Fausto’s Family Restaurant — 14514 US-165, Kinder, LA 70648
Joe’s Sandwich Shop — 1633 W Vine St, Opelousas, LA 70570
Lawtell Food Mart, F&M Quick Stop — 10477 Prejean Hwy, Lawtell, LA 70550
Mo’ Crawfish — 29017 Crowley Eunice Hwy, Eunice, LA 70535
Morrow’s Diner — 24442 US-190, Krotz Springs, LA 70750
Rascal’s Cajun Express — 17681 Hwy 190 Port Barre, LA 70577
Sebastien’s West End Seafood — 1538 W Landry St, Opelousas, LA 70570
Soileau’s Dinner Club — 1618 N Main St, Opelousas, LA 70570
Context and Consumer Impact
SeaD’s 190 Corridor testing underscores ongoing challenges in seafood transparency across Louisiana markets. The high rate of misrepresentation—particularly during Lent—raises concerns about:
· Consumer trust in local seafood establishments
· Economic impact on Louisiana shrimpers during peak demand periods
· The need for stronger enforcement of seafood labeling laws
· The importance of accurate menu descriptions and staff communication
Maintaining the integrity of Louisiana’s seafood brand depends on restaurants truthfully delivering on what they are claiming to serve—and what most diners are expecting.
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.
February 17, 2026 — The Georgia state legislature has passed a bill requiring restaurants to clearly label imported shrimp on their menus or with a public placard, sending it to Governor Brian Kemp to be signed into law.
“This bill simply requires that shrimp sold in foodservice establishments must be labeled as foreign imports IF they are not domestic,” State Representative Jesse Petrea, who sponsored House Bill 117, said in a social media post shortly after it passed the Georgia General Assembly. “This measure provides transparency for consumers and will benefit our GA Shrimpers.”
December 29, 2025 — Genetic testing of purportedly wild-caught shrimp served earlier this month at dozens of Outer Banks restaurants found that 64% of the shrimp was actually imported.
On behalf of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, SeaD Consulting collected and analyzed shrimp samples from randomly selected seafood restaurants in Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Manteo, Rodanthe, Salvo, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, Nags Head and Hatteras, according to a Dec. 17 press release from SeaD. Of the 44 restaurants tested, 43 had verbally claimed to serve local American wild-caught shrimp, but only 16 — 36% — were found to be serving local shrimp in the tested dishes.
The remaining 28 restaurants had served imported farm-raised shrimp, but only one of them admitted it. All 44 of the eateries had used imagery to imply that they served local shrimp.
“The findings raise concerns about seafood transparency in an iconic coastal region known for its local fishing heritage,” the release said.
Despite the Outer Banks’ poor showing, it was noted that Wilmington did even worse, with an “inauthenticity rate” of 77% in previous testing.
SeaD (Seafood Development) Consulting, in partnership with Florida State University, holds the patent for the Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test, or RIGHTTest, that was used in the survey conducted Dec. 2-6. The Southern Shrimp Alliance, an advocacy trade group, has funded the genetic testing of shrimp throughout the region.
Shrimp, the most popular seafood in the U.S., was an $8 billion market in 2025, with Americans consuming 5 pounds per capita of shrimp a year. But it’s not local shrimpers who are raking in big profits.
According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, 93% of the shrimp consumed in the United States comes from overseas, with 1.7 billion pounds of shrimp products imported in 2024, valued at $6 billion. Meanwhile, commercial shrimp harvests in the Gulf of Mexico and the South Atlantic declined from $522 million in 2021 to $269 million in 2023; $25 million to $14 million, respectively, in North Carolina.