A Louisiana lawmaker has strongly criticized the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival for allowing vendors to sell imported shrimp, sparking a wider debate over the future of local seafood at festivals across the state. This controversy has led to calls for legislative action and raised questions about the integrity of events meant to celebrate Louisiana’s rich shrimping heritage.

A Scathing Reproach

State Representative Jessica Domangue, who represents Houma, expressed her frustration in an open letter to the festival’s organizers, accusing them of embarrassing the state’s shrimping industry. She lambasted the festival for allowing the sale of imported shrimp, which was discovered through genetic testing. Conducted by Sea D Consulting, the tests revealed that four out of five vendors were passing off foreign shrimp as local. This, Domangue argued, undermines both the festival’s purpose and the broader local seafood industry.

Domangue’s rebuke was not limited to the festival’s vendors. She took aim at the festival organizers themselves, who issued a public statement that failed to address the core issue. Their response pointed to a new state law, set to take effect in January, which will prohibit mislabeling of imported shrimp. But for Domangue, this was not enough. She noted that the current law already requires food service establishments to disclose the origin of their seafood on menus, suggesting that the festival has been in violation for years.

Protecting Louisiana’s Culture

The broader issue, according to Domangue, is not just about labeling. It is about preserving Louisiana’s cultural identity. Festivals like the Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival are meant to honor local traditions and industries. By allowing vendors to sell imported shrimp, the festival risks damaging Louisiana’s reputation, both at home and abroad. In her letter, Domangue drew a vivid comparison, stating that using foreign shrimp at a shrimp festival is akin to selling imported strawberries at a strawberry festival, a betrayal of the very community the event is supposed to support.

Her concerns extend beyond this single festival. Domangue warned that the negative publicity surrounding the incident could have far-reaching effects on Louisiana’s tourist economy, which relies heavily on the state’s unique cultural events.

Calls for Legislative Action

The controversy has also prompted calls for new legislation. Samantha Carroll, executive director of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board, suggested that state lawmakers may need to draft laws specifically targeting seafood sales at festivals. In the past, the board worked to promote domestic seafood at events across the state, but funding for those efforts, much of which came from the Deepwater Horizon disaster settlement, has dried up.

Carroll also highlighted the need for expanded seafood testing, though she noted that the current focus is on wholesale processors rather than restaurants and festivals. This suggests that further legislative and regulatory efforts will be required to ensure that festival-goers can trust the seafood they are served.

A Tipping Point for Louisiana’s Shrimp Industry?

The Louisiana Shrimp & Petroleum Festival is the state’s oldest harvest festival, celebrating a local industry that has faced increasing pressure from imported seafood. As shrimpers struggle to compete with lower-cost imports, festivals like these represent one of the few remaining public stages where their work is recognized and valued. The controversy over imported shrimp could be a tipping point, as lawmakers and industry leaders look for ways to protect Louisiana’s shrimping heritage.