When Sourcing Your Seafood, There’s No Place Like Home
Gulf coast fisheries boast a multigenerational lineage that has shaped not only the economy of the region, but the culture. They have formed the backbone of coastal communities, with most residents participating in one or many components as fishermen, restaurant owners or employees, and consumers. However, recent decades have seen an expansion of foreign imports such as shrimp, leading to declining dockside prices for domestic products. As a result, a growing disconnect has formed between what is harvested locally and what is served locally, interrupting the dynamic between local fishermen, consumers, and restaurants. Unfortunately, many individuals are unaware of this disruptiondue to incorrectly labeled seafood, where products are marketed as local whenthey are actually imported. In fact, recent genetic testing independently conducted by SeaD Consulting found that the majority of Mississippi Gulf Coast
restaurants tested were not serving domestic shrimp as advertised. As a result, imported shrimp are outcompeting domestic shrimp in part due to mislabeling rather than fair competition. This suppresses demand for locally caught shrimp and undermines American fishermen following legal and sustainable U.S.fishing practices. Buying local seafood is about even more than just Gulf coast pride. Domestic seafood are caught more sustainably, support your local fishermen, processers, and markets, are healthier and free of prohibited antibiotics and chemicals. Thankfully, this issue has received recent attention from state and federal politicians, who have introduced new policies aimed at stopping mislabeling and encouraging a thriving domestic fishing industry. This mission is resonating with community members, too. In this issue of the Gulf Coast FishermenNewsletter, we will discuss these efforts on a federal, state, and community level.
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Associate Extension Professor