Saving Seafood

Offshore Parity Act would help state shrimpers operate year-round, Mississippi official testifies

June 5, 2026 — A Mississippi state official testified in favor of expanding state fisheries control from three to nine nautical miles off the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, a change proposed in the recently introduced Offshore Parity Act.

Advocates of the legislation claim it’s unfair that Texas and Florida are able to control fishing up to nine nautical miles off their coast, while the three other Gulf states only control three nautical miles due to the Submerged Lands Act of 1953. During a 3 June hearing held by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director Joe Spraggins told lawmakers it was critical to his state’s fishers to expand state control.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US senators expand inquiry into shrimp imports, sending questions to certification bodies

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.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

LOUISIANA: Louisiana legislature moves to prohibit comingling of imported, domestic shrimp

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.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

LOUISIANA: Wildlife agents might soon need reasonable suspicion to stop boats in Louisiana

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.

Read the full article at the Louisiana Illuminator 

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