Almost a year after being signed into law, residents should be beginning to see impacts the Alabama Seafood Labeling Law is having on the local industry.

The Seafood Labeling Law was signed into law in May 2024, requiring in-state food establishments, such as grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks and in-store delis, to disclose and label whether any seafood being served was imported or domestically produced, as well as whether the seafood was farm-raised or wild-caught. Sellers are encouraged, but not required, to disclose the country of origin of imported foreign fish or shellfish.

It also requires seafood suppliers who sell to these establishments within the state to disclose the country of origin so the retailers can accurately inform customers.
It does not apply to ingredients in processed food.

The law is an attempt by state officials to aid local fisheries threatened by competition from foreign imports. According to Mobile Baykeeper, foreign shrimp account for 90% of the U.S. market, which threatens the businesses of local shrimpers in the state of Alabama by the "dumping" of foreign shrimp.

In lobbying for the legislation, the group used the anecdote of Bayou La Batre, whose mayor issued a Declaration of Disaster to plea to the state for help as "the shrimping crisis had grown so dire." He said the "Seafood Capital of Alabama was in danger of becoming a ghost town due to the moribund state of the shrimping industry."

In a statement, Mobile Baykeeper Executive Director William Strickland praised the legislation as a win for local fishers trying to keep up with foreign competition.

"Imported seafood has been decimating our neighbors' ability to make a living," Strickland said. "Imports undercut the price of Alabama-harvested seafood, causing generational commercial fishing families to suffer. However, foreign, farmed seafood is not the preference of most consumers. We are grateful to Rep. Chip Brown for putting the choice in our hands on what kind of seafood we want to eat."

With the law, carried in the House by state Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island) and in the Senate by state Sen. David Sessions (R-Grand Bay) and going into effect on Oct. 1, 2024, many people may have already seen it in effect. Walking into the seafood section of grocery stores such as Rouses and Publix, customers can now see specific details about the fish and shellfish they buy on display, including how it was raised and which country it came from.

In response to the law, food service establishments on the University of Alabama campus started display a sign reading "Certain seafood products are imported and may be wild caught or farm-raised."

Though some establishments have updated their processes and signage to adhere to the law, others have yet to receive word from officials about how they should display the information and have raised concerns over how the law will be enforced.

Carrie Munier, who owns Pier House Restaurant & Bar in Orange Beach and Spanish Fort, said officials have yet to tell them what or how to hang or display anything in regard to the law. However, they have already posted information about the seafood they serve at the front of the restaurant, which caters to gluten-free and allergen-friendly guests, assuring their food is delivered locally from the Gulf via Fairhope Fish House.

Under the Alabama Seafood Labeling Law, the Alabama State Department of Health is supposed to be enforcing the law. However, Mobile Baykeeper said is law is currently being enforced more on the grassroots level by consumers and encouraged citizens to report seafood that isn't labeled. While many restaurants denote when they sell Gulf shrimp or oysters, patrons can ask where any seafood comes from and whether it was farmed or wild-caught.

Offenders found violating the guidelines provided by the law will be given a warning for the first offense and an increasing fine for future offenses that can go up to $1,000.

"Because we know when customers are informed, they would rather buy fresh and local than frozen and foreign," Baykeeper stated on social media.

Establishments can appeal a violation to prove they were unaware of the violation and acted in good faith. All fines will be used by the state department to support the enforcement.

Groups of 10 or more people that preorder their food items and hospitals are not subject to the labeling law.

Despite some concerns, state officials are hopeful that the law will help local fishers and could curb foreign competition that could threaten the livelihood of small businesses within the local seafood industry.

"The Alabama Seafood Marketing Commission has been promoting Alabama Gulf Seafood for more than a decade. A big part of that program was to encourage consumers to ask at restaurants and retailers where the seafood that is being served was harvested. We all know the closer to the source, the better the quality for most products. Seafood is certainly no exception," said Chris Blankenship, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. "The legislation that was proposed by Rep. Chip Brown and was passed by the Alabama Legislature requires restaurants and retailers to inform their customers of the origin of seafood being served. We think this is great and will help consumers make informed decisions. It should help seafood harvesters in Alabama as more people ask for quality, local seafood. I am glad that Representative Brown and Sen. (David) Sessions saw the value in what we were doing at Alabama Gulf Seafood and passed legislation to make it a requirement."

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Source: Alabama Department of Public Health