Latest news with #SouthernShrimpAlliance
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Southern Shrimp Alliance study reveals a majority of Charleston-area restaurants serve imported shrimp
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WBCD) – The Southern Shrimp Alliance revealed, in a new study with SeaD Consulting, a majority of Charleston-area restaurants that claim to serve local shrimp are not actually doing so. SeaD Consulting randomly selected 44 restaurants throughout the region, in an attempt to bring transparency and awareness to the Lowcountry. Each of the restaurants selected advertise selling local shrimp. Charleston was the last and eighth stop for this study. The four identified restaurants that do serve domestically caught shrimp include Coosaw Creek Crab Shack, Grace & Grit, Rappahannock Oyster Bar, and Acme Lowcountry Kitchen. '70% of all the seafood eaten in the U.S. is done so at the restaurant level. Any deception done at this level is a detriment to not only our fishing community but also consumers coming down to the coast and wanting to enjoy fresh, local seafood,' Erin Williams, COO and co-founder of SeaD Consulting, said. 'Not only that, your restaurants are honestly sourcing to consumers who are paying that premium to get that quality seafood when competitors in their marketplace are not doing that.' The consulting firm discreetly tested these restaurants by order a shrimp dish, and bring some of it back to their lab. The researchers take a piece of tissue and run it through the RIGHTTest (Rapid ID Genetic High-Accuracy Test) which takes approximately two hours. The results show the species type. The other 40 restaurants are accused of shipping their supply in, which can be cheaper than harvesting local shrimp. However, officials said this deception is harmful to consumers and the local community. 'It's really important to be upfront with your customers especially – it's not cheap to eat out. You have your locals who come to your restaurant and you have all the tourists coming here, and they're assuming that what they're eating is a locally caught product. Not something that's caught thousands of miles away that's farm-raised, it's awful,' Bobby Simons, owner of Acme, said. Simons works with local shrimpers in McClellanville and tells News 2 he maintains a long-term working relationship with them. Similarly, Rocky Magwood, president of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association, works with several other local restaurants. He said though the association did not request this study, Magwood hopes this now encourages more places to buy local. 'It's crazy to how this turned out to people are getting mad because they say 'oh they tested my restaurant', well if you're mad it's because you're not doing the right thing. Just understand, we're here to help you,' Magwood said. 'We're not even mad at the restaurants that wasn't selling fresh shrimp. Just call us and talk to us. We'll see what we can do to match your price and get to where we can get your business. We're just working people, we want to all work together.' The shrimpers association has a list of local restaurants that do sell local shrimp. Magwood said the consumer should also ask the restaurant if they do serve authentic shrimp. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Four major food industries unite to combat imported products
LAFAYETTE, La. () — Four major American food industries are coming together to form a coalition to crack down on imported honey, catfish, crawfish and shrimp. 'This as an existential concern that unless something can be done, they are just a lot of people are going to be put out of business,' said lead trade counsel with the Southern Shrimp Alliance. The coalition consists of the , Catfish Farmers of America, , and . Because of their similar issue, the groups are looking for ways to work together for common relief which would support domestic food producers and continue their operations. The conjoined group has recommendations they are asking for consisting of the following: implementing tariffs on imported honey, catfish, crawfish and shrimp calibrated to domestic production costs strengthening enforcement against transshipment and duty evasion tactics invoking the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and section 232 authority to protect food security enhancing inspection of imported products for safety violations Rickard says the coalition admires the Trump administration's willingness to prioritize the food industry. 'It's really just showing a willingness to address these trade concerns, because in the past, that hasn't been true,' said Rickard. 'From folks in Washington to take this into consideration about whether or not there can be anything that's done that will help these guys stay in business.' Watch: Man gets 20th impaired driving arrest while allegedly driving drunk in Ohio He disappeared after leaving his University of Utah dorm in 1973. His remains were just identified Americans purchasing more older homes than ever before Church Point police search for suspect in traffic and child safety case Louisiana House proposes habitual offender bill Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Shrimp industry applauds executive order to restore American Seafood Competitiveness
LOUISIANA (KLFY) — Good news for the shrimpers and the overall seafood industry as President Donald Trump recently passed an executive order to restore American seafood competitiveness as it confronts the issues the domestic industry has been wanting addressed for decades. Cheri Blanchard with the Southern Shrimp Alliance said this is going to progress the industry forward. 'We've been dealing with this for a long time, and up until this point we haven't gotten a lot of, you know, sort of pats on the head.' Blanchard said. 'You know, things like that, but not a lot of actual attention. Like, yeah, we hear you and we we're going to do something about it.' The executive order was signed on April 17. According to findings by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, around 90% of shrimp consumed in the United States are farm-raised and imported. Blanchard said, regulatory agencies have allowed this to happen in the past. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'A lot of our problems in the U.S. shrimp industry has been the regulatory agencies. I like that. NOA and National Marine Fisheries Services are being more motivated toward helping.' Blanchard said. In a press release by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, they said the executive order provides federal agencies with both the mandate and tools to level the playing field permanently by: Enforcing rigorous safety inspections for imported seafood, aligning FDA seafood practices with those of the USDA's for siluriform, including pangasius and catfish Blocking products tied to forced labor and environmental destruction, which can be done quickly through withhold release orders Reducing regulatory burdens that uniquely disadvantage American shrimpers and incorporating less expensive and more reliable technologies and cooperative research programs into fishery assessments 'American shrimpers don't fear fair competition,' said Kyle Williams, Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director. 'What we seek is simply a marketplace where the highest standards of ethics, safety, and sustainability are rewarded, not penalized. President Trump's executive order represents the most significant action in decades to restore American seafood sovereignty and protect seafood consumers.' A guide to Festival International de Louisiane Eunice Housing Authority seeks new tenant rep, race concerns raised Which food dyes are expected to be eliminated in the US? Mike Patrick, former ESPN broadcaster and voice of Sunday Night Football, dies at 80 'Belly Buddies' helps curb child hunger in Eunice Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gulf Coast shrimpers see Trump tariffs as a lifeline for the US shrimp industry
While President Trump's aggressive (and changing) foreign tariffs are expected to make the cost of living soar for average Americans, there are some groups who welcome rising prices on imports as a way to boost local trade. The Trump administration received roughly 200 letters from Gulf Coast shrimpers asking for higher tariffs on imported shrimp. Prices for the domestic catch have fallen from $2.85 per pound four years ago to $1.64 as of June 2024, down 42%. And shrimpers from the area say imports account for more than 90% of demand for shrimp in the US, according to NBC News. They see the America First policy as a boon for a struggling industry. 'We've watched as multigenerational family businesses tie up their boats, unable to compete with foreign producers who play by a completely different set of rules. We are grateful for the Trump Administration's actions today, which will preserve American jobs, food security, and our commitment to ethical production,' Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director John Williams posted on the organization's website. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Unlike the lobster fishers of Maine, who rely on trade with Canada as their largest export market, shrimpers sell the majority of their catch domestically. Foreign competition has turned the price per pound into a race to the bottom. 'I call it the 'chickenization' of shrimp,'' said Jeremy Zirlott, a shrimper in Alabama with three boats, and a Southern Shrimp Alliance board member. 'Shrimp used to be a luxury item; now it's gotten to where it's one of the cheapest proteins.' "We've been dying for the last 20 years, and the last four years have really been tough," said Acy Cooper, the president of the Louisiana Shrimp Association. "Then Trump comes in — that's why we voted for him. We want change. We can't live like this anymore." The industry's crisis is one that shrimpers feel the US government has, up to now, compounded. In early March, Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., called attention to the fact that US taxpayer dollars are being used to fund the shrimping industry in other countries. As reported by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, private shrimp producers and exporters in Ecuador have received at least $195 million in development funding since the millennium. Funding has also been sent to India, Indonesia, Vietnam, among other countries. The Alliance contends that this has led to a 'global oversupply that has driven wholesale shrimp prices to historic lows during a time of inflation for almost all other commodity prices.' Sen. Cassidy has called on Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to prevent taxpayer dollars from funding foreign shrimp aquaculture. Advocates for the industry say that this foreign supply has been instrumental in gutting the domestic shrimp prices. NOAA Fisheries reported that the total value of U.S. shrimpers' catch was $522 million in 2021 — and only $268 million in 2023, and remaining near this level in 2024. Congressman Clay Higgins, R-La., is also calling attention to the issue and on the Trump administration to impose tariffs of up to 100% on foreign shrimp and crawfish imports. Read more: The US stock market's 'fear gauge' has exploded — but this 1 'shockproof' asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Here's how to own it ASAP "The public has to be willing to pay more for the domestic product we produce," said Zirlott. He anticipates that tariffs will provide some relief, but wants federal funding redirected into the local industry so that it can survive in the long term. "I don't think it's going to solve all of our problems for sure, but it's a step in the right direction," he said. Public support is crucial to encourage young people to join the fishery that is quickly witnessing a 'graying of the fleet.' By contrast, Maine's governor expressed worry that tariffs on the fishery will cause major trading partners like Canada to impose retaliatory tariffs. Some products, such as lobster, cross the border for processing as Maine has 15 lobster processing plants to Canada's 240, meaning Maine's lobstermen would suffer in turn. The National Fisheries Institute has also warned that tariffs on seafood and other items could cause inflation. Some also worry that as prices for foreign imports and domestic shrimp rise, consumers are just as likely to change their tastes as they are to adjust to a higher cost for seafood they expect to be cheap. John Sackton, a seafood industry analyst, reported to NBC that a recent survey showed consumers are more likely to simply cut back on spending for groceries and restaurants when the economy dips, meaning tariffs may not ultimately bring Gulf Coast shrimpers the relief they're desperately seeking. Gulf Coast shrimpers, however, rely on their fellow Americans to do the right thing. 'Today's demand for shrimp is met at a massive human, environmental, and public health cost,' said said Williams, the executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. 'When we outsource our seafood production to industries that use forced labor and environmental shortcuts, we're making a choice about the kind of world we want to support.' Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Local shrimpers see tariffs as opportunity, want targeted approach
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) — As President Donald Trump's shifting tariff policies rattle the stock market and worry consumers, one local industry sees them as an opportunity. 'The first news of the tariffs, we were all excited,' said Bryan Jones, a first-generation shrimper who lives in McClellanville. 'We certainly empathize with anybody that views this as a negative downturn…but [with] this suffering that our industry has had for the last 20 years, our view is that it will provide a lifeline.' The domestic shrimping industry has suffered in recent decades as foreign countries like India, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Vietnam dump billions of pounds of shrimp into the market, thereby artificially deflating the price. 'It's squeezing us out of the market where we once had 80% of the market share 20 years ago, we're now down to 6%,' said Jones, who also serves as vice president of the South Carolina Shrimpers Association. 'That's really stifling to, you know, the people that are trying to make a living and feed their families here in these rural coastal communities.' Republicans fear Trump's trade war could lead to political wipeout But news of the sweeping tariffs offered hope of leveling the playing field. 'What we're looking for is just the ability to compete fairly in the marketplace,' said Jones. 'If the price of imported shrimp goes up, our prices can, in theory, stay the same, as long as we don't have to tie up.' Closer prices would give consumers and restaurants more choice, he added. 'Even if the price of domestic shrimp doesn't move a lot, the restaurant buyer or the head chef has that opportunity to make that conscious decision,' Jones said. 'Or the consumer: if there's a closer price spread, does it make sense to buy something that's delicious, local, wild-caught and sustainable or do I vote with my pocketbook?' According to the Southern Shrimp Alliance, the price of imported shrimp has dropped by more than $1.5 billion, forcing the U.S. to lose nearly 50% of its market value. The alliance contends that U.S. shrimpers have been disadvantaged by unfair trade policies, which include government and global financial institution subsidies for aquaculture ponds and fewer environmental regulations. These policies have allowed foreign countries to flood the market with cheap, often lower-quality shrimp, Jones said. According to a 2015 Consumer Reports bulletin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests only about 1% of foreign shrimp shipments for potential contaminants. About one-third of shipments are rejected for containing banned antibiotics. But, Jones noted that the shipments are not usually immediately confiscated or destroyed, meaning boats could take them to a new port of entry where they could pass through uninspected. 'We have a lot of rules and regulations in place, but when only 1% is inspected, there's a lot of loopholes and ways for shrimp to come across the docks and end up in the food system,' he said. And though tariffs could achieve more financial parity in the industry, American shrimpers will likely have to balance that with rising costs for operational expenses, like replacing the gear onboard trawlers. 'We understand the prices of some these materials may go up, but that would be completely offset if we were able to sell more of our product,' Jones argued. Tariffs on the largest suppliers of imported shrimp were initially set between 10% and 46%, according to figures from the White House. With a 90-day pause now in place, shrimpers are encouraging a more targeted approach. He suggested that mechanisms such as anti-dumping orders and countervailing duties that directly target predatory actors in the industry would also help. 'It's not lost on us that this is not a permanent solution,' Jones said. 'We don't view tariffs as the end all be all, but it could be a strategic tool.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
