Industry leaders emphasize that the renewed legislative attention is a direct response to a crisis within the U.S. seafood industry

U.S. Gulf Shrimpers Cheer New Momentum in Federal Seafood Labeling Fight

Coastal Producers Push for Clearer Country-of-Origin Labeling to Combat Foreign Competition

GULFPORT, MS — Commercial fishermen along the Gulf Coast are finally seeing years of tireless advocacy for stronger seafood import and labeling rules gain traction at the national level. The push comes as domestic U.S. producers warn they are struggling mightily to compete with the flood of cheaper, foreign imports, often leading to market prices that threaten their livelihoods and the stability of coastal economies.

Federal and State Reforms Signal Change

The movement is highlighted by a federal proposal from U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). In October of this year, Hyde-Smith introduced the Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act (S. 3065). This bill aims to significantly expand existing labeling requirements by mandating that seafood sold in stores must list the country of origin and the method of production in the same font size as the product name, thereby increasing visibility for consumers. The bill was also co-sponsored by Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL).

This federal initiative follows crucial state-level reforms that laid the groundwork for the national policy push:

• Mississippi House Bill 602 took effect on July 1 of this year. It requires restaurants, seafood markets, and wholesalers in Mississippi to label seafood clearly as either domestic or imported. Enforcement of the law is split between the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Department of Agriculture.

• Ryan Bradley, executive director of Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United and a fifth-generation commercial fisherman, noted the direct impact of the state law: "We’ve seen an increase in demand for our local wild-caught products."

Blake Price, deputy director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, underscored the need for such laws, citing the widespread problem of mislabeling. He stated that in areas without strong labeling laws, "we’re at 70% (of restaurants mislabeling foreign seafood as domestic)."

Dire Straits Drive Legislative Urgency

Industry leaders emphasize that the renewed legislative attention is a direct response to a crisis within the U.S. seafood industry.

"It’s very unfortunate that it’s taken the industry being on the brink of collapse for this awareness to be made," said Price. Bradley confirmed the severity, stating that the industry is in "dire straits" due to factors including globalization with imports and the lack of young fishermen entering the field. He noted that they’ve spent years urging officials to address uneven competition with foreign imports and the loss of local access to natural resources.

Photo: Southern Shrimp Alliance

The momentum also aligns with broader federal action. Price pointed out that the current administration is making a concerted effort, citing Executive Order 14276, which aims to reform “overregulated fisheries,” expand domestic processing, and strengthen seafood trade enforcement.

Market Response and Future Outlook

The legislative and enforcement actions appear to be having a positive effect on the market. Bradley and Price credit this momentum with helping to lift shrimp prices in 2025 following a period of historic lows.

• "Shrimp prices are up thanks to some of that action," Bradley said, adding that fishermen are now getting a good price for their catch.

Price elaborated, suggesting that tariffs have begun to narrow the pricing gaps between imported and domestic seafood, which "have great potential to provide much-needed relief and create an even and fair market for our U.S. commercial shrimp industry.” He stressed that the stability of the entire coastal economy, which was "built upon this," is at stake.

Despite the recent success, leaders caution that sustained action is necessary. "To introduce things is nice and all, but it’s better to get it passed," Bradley said. Price agreed, stating that enacting a few key pieces of legislation could provide both short- and long-term relief and "really crank up the market."

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