Louisiana Seafood Safety Bill: A Small Step in the Right Direction

On September 8, a new seafood safety bill authored by Representative Fred Mills (D-46) was formally signed in the Louisiana State Legislature by Governor Jindal.   The bill comes at a time when nearly two-thirds of the shrimpers in the state have participated in a strike in the last month to protest the low prices they receive for their catch. (Read more about the strike and the shrimpers’ position here.) The primary problem is the low prices of farmed imported shrimp, which domestic shrimpers can’t compete with. It’s the same problem that’s undermined so many other U.S. industries: it’s cheaper to produce things in other countries where there aren’t strong labor and environmental standards. While purchasing less expensive products may seem to be a short term answer to difficult personal economic times, it can perpetuate domestic financial problems , by causing loss of U.S. jobs. In this case, there is a risk to consumer health as well.

Much imported seafood is raised in dirty, poorly cared-for fish farms. The top countries the U.S. imports seafood from are China and Thailand. Shrimp is shipped to the U.S. to be sold more cheaply than the local, fresher seafood coming right off the dock each day. Local shrimpers arent receiving enough money per pound for their catch to stay in business , simply to pay for a day’s gas and ice to go out on the water costs more than they have been receiving. This is also bad for consumers, because many foreign shrimp farms use high amounts of chemicals and antibiotics in production, and lack enforcement of food safety standards.

Seafood safety and U.S. jobs go hand-in-hand. With imports squeezing out our shrimpers and other fishermen, consumers can only access seafood that’s been produced under questionable conditions, and is not as fresh as it could be by the time it reaches their plates. ‚Ä®‚Ä®The seafood safety bill, Louisiana House Bill 551/Act 330, aims to establish some standards to protect consumers from unhealthy imported seafood‚Äîsimultaneously offering some protection for U.S. jobs. It‚ supported by a council of shrimpers who have come together across racial and ethnic lines and overcome past disagreements to send a unified message that action is necessary.

However, the bill only applies to seafood from China, and only creates voluntary standards. The Louisiana shrimpers need more help to be able to stay in business.

The change needed could come with legislation that requires country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for all seafood. Wait a second‚Äîdont we already have country-of-origin labeling standards in the U.S.?  Well, we do,but the existing COOL rules are full of loopholes, and it seems seafood has fallen through one of those. We need to close the loopholes in COOL and require mandatory labeling of all seafood, whether it’s in the grocery store or on a menu.

For more information on how you can get involved in helping our U.S. shrimpers, sign up for our new Shrimp Updates list and stay tuned for coming actions.

, Erica Schuetz