Seafood Resource Guide

Do you Know your Seafood?

Resource Guide

Why Should I Support Local Seafood in Louisiana?

Sources [1] & [12]

Support Local Fishing Families

You’re supporting family-owned businesses with generational roots in their local communities.

Preserve Louisiana’s Foodways

You’re helping preserve Louisiana’s culinary heritage and diverse array of culinary options.

Choose Sustainable, Traceable Seafood

Louisiana’s strict harvesting regulations ensure our local seafood is sustainable, highly traceable, and of premium quality.

US CAUGHT / SOURCED SEAFOOD

vs

IMPORTED / FARMED SEAFOOD

Did you know?

U.S. Caught/Sourced Seafood

Seafood regulation in the U.S. involves the FDA, NOAA, & USDA.[2]

“Harvested or produced in ways that protect the long-term health of species populations and ecosystems.”[3]

“Create jobs, support resilient working waterfronts and coastal communities, and provide international trade opportunities.” [4]

Did you know?

Imported/Farmed Seafood

“Farm-raised seafood varieties can be higher in contaminants.” [5]

"Many international fish farms are not held to high inspection standards that you would see in the United States." [6]

“Farmed fish can be slightly higher in omega-3 fatty acids, presumably due to the farms’ fortified feed.” [7]

Pay Attention to the Country of Origin Labels

Country of Origin Labels make it easy to identify where food products were born, raised, harvested, produced, or processed. Designed for supermarkets, grocery stores, meat processors, seafood departments, produce operations, and food manufacturers, these labels help communicate country of origin information clearly and professionally.

WHEN YOU SEE THIS SIGN, 
ALWAYS ASK...

Which of your dishes serve domestic seafood, and is it sourced from Louisiana?

Know our Seafood Labeling Laws

ACT 148 RS 40:5.5.4 Crawfish and Shrimp Menu Labeling Law

Any food service establishment must disclose on its menu or on a sign that "some items served at this establishment may contain imported crawfish or shrimp. Ask for more information."

The sign must be at least 18 inches tall and 18 inches wide and be written in English.

Lettering must not be less than 1 inch in size.

The sign must be posted in a conspicuous location not less than 36 inches from the floor.

The Louisiana Health Department enforces the law and can issue violation fines.

Advertised as “Wild Caught” & distributed by a Louisiana business, BUT it is a product of China! If a package uses Louisiana-themed images, it must list the Country of Origin. [11]

Beware of Misleading Labels

SOURCE LOCALLY YEAR-ROUND

Find Local Catch:

[Visit Website →]

Visit your local farmer’s market:

[Visit Website →]

Sources

1. Why Local? I Louisiana Seafood Passport .

2. USDA Announces Creation of Office of Seafood to Strengthen Industry Coordination I EAS Consulting Group.

3 & 4. Understanding Sustainable Seafood I NOAA Fisheries.

5-7. Wild caught vs. farm raised seafood I Colorado State University.

8. Country of Origin Labels I SupermarkeLabels.com.

9. ACT 148 RS 40:5.5.4 I LDOH.

10. Seasons in Louisiana: Food, Festivals & Flavor All Year I Louisiana Feed Your Soul.

11. https://www.instagram.com/p/DIPZlYPSILd/?img_index=1

12. Supporting Local Catch: Ensuring Your Restaurant Meal is Fresh Louisiana Seafood I Shreveport Aquarium

Keep Exploring

There’s always more to discover about the food growing around us.

[Explore More Eat Local Resource Guides →]