More than 900 restaurants were cited in 2025 for violating Louisiana’s new seafood labeling law, according to the Louisiana Illuminator.
First passed in 2019, the law requires restaurants to disclose either on their menu or with a clear public sign whether the crawfish and shrimp they sell is imported. First-time violations result in a fine of up to USD 500 (EUR 421), and repeat violations can increase fines up to USD 2,000 (EUR 1,685).
In response to a public records request, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that 919 restaurants were cited for violations of the law in 2025, 319 of which were fined. The department told the publication the total fine amount added up to USD 113,000 (EUR 95,216).
The enforcement of fines marks a significant change from 2023, when a Louisiana Illuminator investigation found that state health inspectors had issued 2,671 citations for violations of the law, but had not issued any fines. At the time, officials noted that the state law did not have a provision for fines, leaving them with no recourse to incentivize compliance.
Louisiana state and federal lawmakers have pushed to protect their local shrimpers from foreign competition, seeking government financial support and barriers to entry. Last year, Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser sent a letter to U.S. President Trump asking him to impose a USD 0.10 (EUR 0.09) per-pound inspection fee on shrimp imports.
“As we look to encourage American sourcing of goods and services through tariffs, it is the perfect opportunity to implement these types of fees to support our domestic fisheries,” Nungesser said.
In January, U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to make a bulk purchase of Louisiana shrimp to help the struggling sector.
“Louisiana's shrimp industry is integral to both our state and national economies, supporting approximately 15,000 jobs and generating USD 1.3 billion [EUR 1.1 billion] in economic activity each year throughout the state. According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Louisiana shrimpers harvest around 70 million pounds of shrimp annually. However, these 70 million pounds of shrimp are a small fraction of total U.S. shrimp consumption, with imports accounting for nearly 90 percent,” Higgins said in a 28 January letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
