A recent study by SeaD Consulting uncovers widespread seafood fraud in Galveston, with 60% of restaurants falsely marketing imported shrimp as Gulf-sourced. The findings spotlight ethical concerns and the devastating impact on Texas's struggling shrimping industry.
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A recent study by SeaD Consulting found that 60% of seafood restaurants in Galveston and Kemah falsely advertise imported shrimp as coming from the Gulf. This raises worries about ethics and the economy. Only 18 of the 44 restaurants that were tried actually served wild Gulf shrimp, even though many of them made that claim as a selling point.
Katie's Seafood House, Benno's on the Seawall, and Yaga's Cafe are all well-known places in Galveston that are known to serve real Gulf shrimp. Many others, though, failed the test, and dishes with fake labels were often priced higher than their real versions. These dishonest actions not only trick customers, but they also put at risk Texas's struggling Gulf shrimp economy.
"The Gulf shrimp business is dying," said Dave Williams, founder of SeaD. He said that the cheaper shrimp that were shipped in with false labels has caused prices to drop for local shrimpers. The number of registered shrimpers in Texas has dropped from over 2,500 in 2000 to less than 1,000 now. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says that the business lost $125 million in sales between 2022 and 2023, even though shrimp harvests only went down a little.
Rep. Terri Leo Wilson (R-Galveston) has proposed a bill to fix the problem. It would require restaurants to list where the shrimp they serve comes from on the menu or in a way that can be seen. The law would go into force on September 1, 2024, if it is passed. A similar rule in Louisiana has already set an example by making it clear where shrimp and crawfish come from.
As people learn more about seafood fraud, those who support stricter rules hope that the Gulf shrimping business will be able to stay alive and consumers will trust it again.
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