A Louisiana state lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow the state government to seize and destroy seafood that violates state law in the latest effort to crack down on imported seafood – particularly shrimp.
Louisiana seafood producers have long bemoaned the prevalence of cheap imports, asking state and federal lawmakers to take action to support the state’s struggling seafood sector.
In 2019, the state passed a law requiring restaurants to disclose either on their menu or with a visible public sign if the crawfish or shrimp they sell is imported; however, lax enforcement and DNA testing that has revealed prolific amounts of imported shrimp being sold by local restaurants and vendors has pushed lawmakers to beef up the law. A 2023 Louisiana Illiminator investigation found that state health inspectors had not issued any fines for violations of the law, despite issuing 2,671 citations. The state legislature ultimately amended the law to enable the government to finally issue fines, and a recent Louisiana Illuminator report found that 319 restaurants were fined for violating the state law in 2025, with the government collecting USD 113,000 (EUR 95,216) in fines.
As part of that effort to increase enforcement, Louisiana lawmakers also voted to transfer authority for imported seafood sampling, testing, and enforcement from the state's Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism to the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.
Still, some legislators want to make further improvements in the state’s crackdown on imported seafood.
Louisiana lawmakers have begun filing bills to set the legislative agenda ahead of the Spring session, which kicks off 9 March, and Louisiana Representative Jessica Domangue (R-Houma) said she has worked with state officials on legislation that would strengthen the state’s efforts to combat imported seafood.
“Headlines like this are why we need federal action on imported seafood. The state has made strides, and we will continue the fight,” Domangue said in response to a local news headline titled “Hundreds of Louisiana restaurants cited, fined for not disclosing imported seafood.” “For the 2026 session, I have been working with Ag Commissioner Mike Strain on legislation to support our local fishermen and processors while combating bad actors in the restaurant industry.”
House Bill 121 would authorize the state commissioner of agriculture and forestry to seize and destroy seafood that violates state law, while HB 109 would provide a portion of the revenue collected from sports betting to the Imported Seafood Safety Fund.
House Bill 121 complements a similar bill proposed at the federal level by the state’s two senators. Last year, U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) and U.S. Rep. Troy Carter (D-Louisiana) introduced the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which would authorize the U.S. Food and Drug Association to destroy seafood imports that are refused entry.
“Billions of pounds of uninspected seafood continue to enter our country, causing major health concerns,” U.S. Representative Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) said in a statement. “We must prioritize the health and safety of the American people by holding foreign shipments to the same high standards that our U.S. producers face. In my opinion, foreign products don’t even come close to the quality of Louisiana seafood. This legislation provides the FDA with the authority to destroy illegal seafood imports and ensures that contaminated products don’t reach American markets.”
