U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville of Alabama and Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi introduced new legislation last week aimed at making seafood labeling more transparent for American consumers.

According to the legislation, “This Act may be cited as the ‘Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling Act’ or the ‘LABEL Act,’ to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to strengthen country of origin and method of production labeling for fish.”

The bill, filed as S.3065, would require all seafood sold in retail settings — whether wild caught or farm raised — to clearly display its country of origin and method of production. Under the bill, that information must appear prominently on packaging or display materials in a font size at least as large as the product name.

Currently, imported seafood is often labeled in print so small it’s easily missed, leaving U.S. producers at a disadvantage when competing with cheaper imports.

“American producers have been undercut by foreign producers dumping their low-quality seafood into our markets. There’s no better source for fish and seafood than Alabama ponds and the Gulf of America, and we want people to know where their food is coming from,” Tuberville said in a news release regarding the LABEL Act. “I’m proud to join Senator Hyde-Smith in this legislation that bolsters American seafood production, promotes safe seafood consumption, and protects our domestic producers.”

Hyde-Smith said the measure would help domestic industries fight back against low-cost imports that don’t always meet U.S. safety standards.

“Mississippi’s seafood industry is already battling a flood of cheap imports, much of which don’t meet the same safety standards our domestic producers uphold,” she said. “This bill would ensure American consumers know exactly where their seafood comes from, while giving our domestic fishermen and producers a fair chance to compete.”

If passed, the LABEL Act would take effect 180 days after enactment, giving processors, distributors, and retailers time to update their packaging. The legislation applies only to retail establishments, not restaurants.

The bill has drawn support from several Gulf Coast seafood organizations, including the American Shrimp Processors Association, Louisiana Shrimp Association, Southern Shrimp Alliance, and the Organized Seafood Association of Alabama.

Both Alabama and Mississippi have already enacted similar state laws requiring clear seafood labeling. In 2024, Alabama began mandating that restaurants and retailers disclose whether seafood is wild caught or farm raised, and whether it’s imported or domestic. The LABEL Act would extend those standards nationwide.