Shrimp consumers are being misled on a massive scale. SeaD Consulting found that 96% of the sampled Tampa-St. Pete, Florida restaurants (42 of 44) imply they serve local shrimp while actually serving farm-raised imported shrimp (read the press release).
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is taking aggressive action to address deceptive marketing of farm-raised imported shrimp as local shrimp, as import data shows volumes and values have declined for three consecutive years—a signal of shrinking consumer demand. SSA attributes this to years of prioritizing cheap imported shrimp and failing to address banned antibiotics, labor abuses, and environmental damage.
The domestic industry must unhook itself from the sinking ship of shrimp imports and differentiate shrimp in the restaurant market, which starts with awareness of the problem. After the FTC issued new restaurant guidance regarding false advertising of seafood in restaurants, SSA is funding cutting-edge genetic testing of shrimp served at a random selection of restaurants across the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic.
SSA also urges the U.S. government to oppose international development projects that worsen oversupply in a declining market. By exposing deceptive practices, raising awareness, and distinguishing U.S. wild-caught shrimp, SSA aims to preserve the domestic shrimp industry and restore trust in the broader market.
See restaurants sampled by SeaD Consulting that serve domestic shrimp
