A recent article from Axios Raleigh reported that half the shrimp marketed as “wild-caught American” at Outer Banks restaurants last month was actually imported…
A recent article from Axios Raleigh reported that half the shrimp marketed as “wild-caught American” at Outer Banks restaurants last month was actually imported, according to genetic testing by SeaD Consulting.
SeaD is a technology company that uses genetic testing to monitor fraud in the seafood industry on behalf of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
In June, scientists DNA-tested shrimp from 22 restaurants advertising wild-caught American shrimp. Only 11 were accurately labeled.
That’s an improvement from December, when 44 restaurants were tested and only 16, or 36%, passed.
Reports indicate that shrimp remains the most consumed seafood in the U.S. with per capita consumption around 5.5-5.9 pounds; however, domestic shrimp now accounts for only 4.5% of the U.S. market as of 2023.
According to the NC DMF Fish Dealer Report from this month, North Carolina shrimpers only landed 7.1 million pounds in 2025. With 11.2 million people in North Carolina consuming just 5 pounds of shrimp annually, the consumer demand for shrimp would be 56 million pounds a year. If all of the shrimp landed in NC stayed in this state (which we know it does not), then NC shrimpers could only supply around 13% of the total annual consumer demand for shrimp in North Carolina.
Imported shrimp will continue to be a large part of the seafood industry’s ability to satisfy consumer demand for seafood, so consumers absolutely have the right to know with certainty they are being served “fresh local” shrimp when it is advertised by a restaurant—where they are often paying a premium price for it. NC Legislators should follow the lead of Gulf states like Louisiana and Alabama that have laws on the books regulating seafood labeling and put similar protections in place for NC consumers.
