Update as of 3:58 p.m.:

Organizers of the 52nd Annual National Shrimp Festival are ensuring that only domestic shrimp are served at the event.

“Over the past two days we have found several apparent violations of mandates that domestic shrimp be served,” said Festival Chief Shrimp Investigator Chandra Wright in a news release. “We are now reasonably confident that each of the 18 shrimp vendors are in compliance with our contract.”

SeaD Consulting, the festival’s testing partner, discovered several irregularities during overnight testing.

“We met with each of the vendors flagged by SeaD and examined receipts and inventory,” said Shrimp Festival Co-Chair Rob Barnas. “One receipt indicated domestic shrimp, with the box even stating the product was not imported, when in fact the contents failed testing.”

Wright added, “With the discrepancies found between labeling and product, additional samples have been collected for further testing. Each of the vendors that were flagged were given a list of local wild-caught suppliers and have since complied with their contractual obligations.”

Ernie Anderson, president of the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama, praised the festival’s efforts.

“We are thankful that the Shrimp Festival has placed such a priority on shrimp sourcing,” he said. “We know that our local shrimp is the best tasting and we hope festival patrons will learn that too.”

Original article:

On-site DNA testing of shrimp is underway at the 52nd Annual National Shrimp Festival, which opened Thursday, as organizers work to ensure compliance with Alabama’s new seafood labeling laws.

According to a news release, yesterday morning’s inspections found only one violation, but overnight DNA tests revealed several irregularities. Coastal Alabama Business Chamber staff, SeaD Consulting employees and representatives from the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama are meeting with vendors where discrepancies were discovered. Officials said more details will be released once those meetings conclude.

The festival partnered with SeaD Consulting to conduct the testing after the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama returned as a sponsor following several years of absence. Shrimp Festival Chairman Rob Barnas said the sponsorship funding allowed the festival to bring in SeaD Consulting to work alongside volunteer Chief Shrimp Investigator Chandra Wright to verify vendor compliance.

Alabama’s seafood labeling law, which took effect last year, requires sellers to disclose whether their fish or shellfish is domestic or foreign and whether it is farm-raised or wild-caught. Barnas said the festival has long required vendors to use domestic shrimp, and imported shrimp can result in fines or dismissal.

“The problem was that it took weeks for DNA testing to come back,” Barnas said in a previous GCM article. “SeaD’s technology provides inexpensive, portable genetic testing equipment that enables us to get results in just a few hours.”

The festival continues through the weekend, offering seafood, live music, arts, crafts, and family activities. Vendors with questions about compliance can visit www.myshrimpfest.com.