Saving Seafood

LOUISIANA: Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry Marks Start of 2026 Season with Annual Blessing of the Fleet

May 11, 2026 — Louisiana’s menhaden fishing industry officially began the 2026 season on April 20, the day after the annual Blessing of the Fleet in Plaquemines Parish. The longstanding tradition brought together fishermen, their families, clergy and community members to pray for a safe and successful season. Held in Empire, the Blessing of the Fleet reflects generations of coastal heritage rooted in faith, family and a deep connection to the Gulf.

The full day of activities included boiled crawfish, lively conversations and children’s activities. There were also reflective moments, as captains and crew members bowed their heads on their menhaden steamers to pray for the coming months.

“The Blessing of the Fleet isn’t just about the season ahead,” said Francois Kuttel, President of Westbank Fishing. “It’s about recognizing the generations of hardworking fishermen who have made this industry what it is today.”

The event was also a time for Plaquemines Parish families to remember what the menhaden industry means to them. Dozens of attendees pointed out that the fishing season is a way of life for multiple generations. In fact, several noted that their parents, grandparents, adult children, cousins, in-laws and others have jobs that are directly tied to the menhaden industry.

“Daybrook and Westbank are invested in our community. They give us a chance to do something in our hometown,” said Sara Nelson, a lifelong resident of Empire and a six-year employee of Daybrook. “If I didn’t have this position here, I wouldn’t be able to live here.”

Read the full article at the Advocate

Gulf states push for offshore parity with 9-mile boundary bill

May 1, 2026 — A new bipartisan bill in Congress aims to level the playing field for the Gulf Coast states by expanding offshore boundaries for Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

Introduced by Rep. Troy Carter Sr., D-La., alongside Reps. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., Clay Higgins, R-La., and Shomari Figures, D-La., the Offshore Parity Act would extend state waters from three nautical miles out to nine– matching the boundaries long held by Texas and Florida.

Under current law, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have jurisdiction over just three nautical miles offshore, a limitation dating back to the Submerged Lands Act of 1953. Texas and Florida were granted broader authority, a disparity that Louisiana unsuccessfully challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1969 case United States v. Louisiana.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama could gain more control over their coastal waters under new bill

April 29, 2026 — A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation that would extend offshore boundaries for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to match those of Texas and Florida.

Rep. Troy Carter Sr. (D-LA) introduced the Offshore Parity Act alongside Reps. Mike Ezell (R-MS), Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Shomari Figures (D-LA).

According to the lawmakers, the current law gives Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama jurisdiction over just three nautical miles offshore. Texas and Florida have nine nautical miles, and the new bill would bring all three Gulf states up to that same limit.

Read the full article at WBRZ

LOUISIANA: One of more than 60 seafood samples tests positive for oil in Gulf

April 23, 2026 — More than 60 samplings of Gulf aquatic life have been tested for oil, and samples have come back negative.

Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, known as LOOP, learned Feb. 26 of a leak from one of its offshore facilities about 18 miles out from Port Fourchon. About 750 barrels of heavy crude oil were spilled into the Gulf, according to news releases from the company.

The U.S. Coast Guard reported in a March 17 news release that roughly 95 barrels of the oil remained uncollected in the Gulf of Mexico, which was renamed the Gulf of America by the U.S. Government.

Samples were taken from blue crabs, oysters, Spanish mackerel, black drums, spotted sea trout, red drum, as well as brown and white shrimp. They were taken between March 19 and April 1.

Read the full article at Daily Comet

Accountability Certified: Louisiana’s Most Scrutinized Fishery Just Got Recertified Sustainable. Here’s What the Science Actually Shows.

April 6, 2026 — The Gulf menhaden fishery has earned its first recertification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – the world’s leading certification body for sustainable fisheries – reaffirming its environmental performance and science-based management following a rigorous, multi-year independent audit.

The MSC is the world’s leading certification body for sustainable fisheries, and the 2026 recertification provides third-party verification that the fishery continues to meet the highest standards for sustainability, ecosystem health, and effective management. MSC certifications are valid for five years, with annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance. A full recertification – including public comment and the opportunity for objections – is required every five years. The fishery was first certified in 2019.

The MSC process is exhaustive, examining every dimension of the fishery’s performance: stock health, bycatch rates, environmental impacts, and regulatory oversight. Fisheries must meet strict scoring thresholds across all categories, with any deficiencies requiring time-bound corrective action.

The Marine Stewardship Council is an independent, international nonprofit organization that sets the world’s leading standard for sustainable fishing. Its certification program is science-based, globally recognized, and relies on third-party auditors, transparent public input, and continuous monitoring to ensure fisheries meet the highest benchmarks for environmental performance and accountability.

The Gulf menhaden fishery successfully addressed all conditional scores from its first certification, demonstrating continuous, measurable improvement.

Read the full article at The Advocate

LOUISIANA: Louisiana moves to reshape fisheries commission

March 31, 2026 — A proposed constitutional amendment moving through the Louisiana Legislature could give the state’s governor significantly more influence over the body that sets fishing and hunting policy– but not everyone is on board.

As reported by the Louisiana Illuminator, the Louisiana Senate Committee on Natural Resources voted unanimously this week to advance a measure that would expand the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission from seven to nine voting members. The bill was authored by Sen. Caleb Kleinpeter, R-Port Allen.

The commission is a constitutionally protected body that has been setting wildlife and fisheries policy since 1952, with rulemaking authority granted in 1972. It controls budgets and regulations for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, including commercial and recreational fishing seasons and harvest limits.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

LOUISIANA: Testing During Lent Reveals 50% of Shrimp Dishes Were Imported/Farm- raised in US 190 Corridor Restaurants

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.

Court finds Gulf of Mexico fishery council appointments unconstitutional

March 30, 2026 — A federal appeals court in Louisiana has found that members of a Gulf of Mexico fishery council were unconstitutionally selected for their positions, but the judges stopped short of striking down a council plan to curtail the catch of a large saltwater fish.

The ruling issued Friday by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a partial win for a group of commercial fishers of the greater amberjack who had challenged the legality of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and, by extension, sought to block the catch limits.

Because the council’s unconstitutional powers were not used in making its recommendation, the court need not toss out a NOAA Fisheries rule that implemented the catch limits, the panel of 5th Circuit judges found.

Read the full article at E&E News

The man who keeps the menhaden fleet running

March 25, 2026 — Out of Empire, Louisiana, the menhaden fleet doesn’t just catch fish. It sustains families, funds local businesses, and anchors one of the few steady industries in low Plaquemines Parish. And when something goes wrong on the water, Casey Devillier is the one who fixes it.

The Louisiana Commercial Fishing Coalition shared Devillier’s story. He has worked for Westbank Fishing for 23 years, and though his title is vessel manager, the role goes far beyond the name. “I handle anything electrical on the boats. And that ends up being a lot.”

He oversees 12 menhaden fishing vessels and 24 smaller purse boats, each relying on interlocking systems- engines, generators, refrigeration, hydraulics, radar, autopilot, steering controls, and onboard electronics. When any one of them fails during the short fishing season, the clock starts ticking immediately.

“The main engines are critical,” he says. “But refrigeration is just as important. If that goes down, you have serious problems.”

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

LOUISIANA: Rooted in Plaquemines Parish: A Life in Louisiana’s Menhaden Industry

March 9, 2026 — Along Louisiana’s coast, the menhaden industry has quietly powered local economies for generations – providing industrial jobs, rebuilding communities after disasters, and allowing families to stay rooted in rural coastal parishes. The small, silvery fish harvested in the Gulf are processed into high-protein fish meal and nutrient-rich oil used in aquaculture, pet food, agriculture, and other essential products. In Plaquemines Parish, that work supports families, schools, and small businesses.

For Travis Harvey, it has supported an entire life.

This will be my 29th fishing season,” Harvey says. “I started when I was 20 years old. This is all I’ve ever done, and all I ever wanted to do.”

Harvey is Plant Manager at Daybrook Fisheries in Empire, LA, the processing partner to Westbank Fishing. But his story is less about job titles and more about roots.

Growing Up Seven Miles Away

Harvey was born and raised in Home Place, just seven miles from the plant.

“I’ve never really left,” he says. “After Katrina we evacuated for a few months, but we came back and rebuilt. I’ve always wanted to stay right here.”

In a rural parish where many young people feel pressure to move away to find opportunity, Harvey considers that a gift.

Read the full article at the Advocate