June 1, 2026 — U.S. senators have expanded their inquiry into imported shrimp, which they claim “poses serious risks to families’ health,” sending questions to three of the largest seafood certification bodies.
Together, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) and U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) have sent a list of questions to the Global Seafood Alliance, the Marine Stewardship Council, and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.
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 — Wildlife agents and other law enforcement personnel will no longer be able to randomly stop and board boats in Louisiana waters without reasonable suspicion of a crime under legislation state lawmakers have approved.
House Bill 756, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Fontenot, R-Thibodaux, is on Gov. Jeff Landry’s desk after receiving unanimous approval from both chambers of the legislature and support from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission. Proponents say the measure will bring state law in line with the U.S. Constitution.
It would replace a law adopted in 1984 that allowed state Wildlife and Fisheries agents to randomly stop and board boats in state waters to perform safety checks.
In a brief interview Wednesday, Fontenot said his bill is part of a growing movement in some states to rein in certain law enforcement practices that have annoyed some boaters. Alabama recently enacted a law similar to the measure Louisiana is on the cusp of adopting, and Florida approved its version last year.
More than 20 states don’t require probable cause, which is a step after reasonable suspicion, for law enforcement to board boats, but that number is trending downward according to tracking data from the U.S. Coast Guard.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.