05-03-2025
Study shows 77% of ‘local' shrimp actually imported
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — Savannah restaurants have been deceptively advertising internationally imported shrimp as locally caught, a new test has found.
In late February, the Southern Shrimp Alliance hired seafood industry research center SEAD Consulting to genetically test 44 restaurant dishes in the Savannah area. These tests were an effort to determine whether the advertised local Georgia wild-caught shrimp was so, or if restaurants were serving farm-raised imported shrimp.
The company used a Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test in its efforts.
The results showed that of the 44 restaurants, 34 were selling non-local shrimp. Meaning that only 10 were serving authentic domestic wild-catch fare. SEAD Consulting said that this implies that diners in the Hostess City have less than one in four chances of having fresh shrimp out of their coast.
The following 10 restaurants were found to serve domestic shrimp:
1. Belford's Seafood and Steaks, 315 West St. Julian Street, Savannah, GA 31401
2. Boar's Head Grill & Tavern, 1 North Lincoln Street, Savannah, GA 31401
3. Coastal 15, 102 W Bay St, Savannah, GA 31401
4. Fiddler's Crab House & Oyster Bar, 131 West River Street, Savannah, GA 31401
5. Love's Seafood & Steak, 6817 Chief O.F. Love Road, Savannah, GA 31419
6. The Olde Pink House, 23 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
7. Pier 16, 1601 Inlet Ave, Tybee Island, GA 31328
8. Rhett, 412 Williamson Street, Savannah, GA 31401
9. Sea Wolf, 106 S Campbell Ave, Tybee Island, GA 31328
10. Wood's Seafood, 711 GA-30, Port Wentworth, GA 31407
'Consumers–including millions of Georgia's tourists–want the superior flavor and texture of wild-caught shrimp harvested by a sustainable, well-managed local fishery. Restaurants know that, and use the culture and imagery of local shrimpers when selling a farm-raised shrimp raised halfway around the world on processed feed, pesticides, fungicides, and possibly banned antibiotics,' said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance.
'I have spent many years distinguishing wild Georgia shrimp from farm-raised imports, working with our tourism boards to promote Georgia's premium seafood and rich culture. Yet, none of that work is worth anything if restaurants mislead consumers through false advertising,' said John Wallace, owner of Anchor Shrimp Co., a leading supplier of wild Georgia shrimp to Savannah and the Georgia coast. 'We thank Georgia Representative Jesse Petrea for sponsoring and Representatives Buddy Deloach, Lehman Franklin, Rick Townsend, and Al Williams for co-sponsoring legislation to mandate restaurant labeling that allows consumers to make an informed decision when ordering shrimp.'
The legislation that Wallace is referring to is Georgia House Bill 117, which would require all restaurants in Georgia to disclose, in writing on their menu, if their shrimp is foreign imported.
'Consumers have a strong preference for U.S. wild-caught shrimp, valued for its sustainability, superior flavor, and crisp texture thanks to natural diets in local waters,' Williams said in February. 'It's essential to protect both consumers and local jobs by taking action against deceptive advertising and seafood fraud in restaurants and grocery stores that dupe consumers into choosing imported shrimp under false claims.'
State Representative Jesse Petrea (HD-166) is a sponsor of the bill, which passed the Georgia House of Representatives in a 165-7 vote. He spoke with News 3 last month and said that he wants local consumers to know where the food on their plate is coming from.
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