Georgia Senate Passes Shrimp Transparency Bill

New law would require restaurants to disclose if shrimp is imported or locally sourced

Feb. 4, 2026 at 5:39am

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The Georgia state Senate voted this week to pass legislation that would require restaurants to clearly disclose whether the shrimp on their menus comes from imported farms or is harvested domestically. Supporters say the bill will promote transparency and support the local U.S. shrimping industry, which faces competition from cheaper imported shrimp.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to address the issue of restaurants serving imported shrimp without disclosing its origin, which can mislead consumers and undermine the local shrimping industry in Georgia and other coastal states. Transparency around seafood sourcing is an increasing priority for consumers and lawmakers.

The details

The bill mandates that restaurants must display on their menus whether each shrimp dish features 'foreign imported' or domestically sourced shrimp. A recent investigation in Savannah found that 34 out of 44 restaurants were using imported shrimp, while only 10 were selling authentic local seafood. Imported shrimp dominates the market due to lower costs, even as U.S. shrimp faces stricter safety, labor, and environmental standards.

  • The Georgia state Senate passed the shrimp transparency bill this week.
  • The bill now heads to the Georgia House for consideration before reaching the governor's desk.

The players

John Wallace

Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance and president of Anchored Shrimp Company in Brunswick.

Governor Kemp

The governor of Georgia who will decide whether to sign the shrimp transparency bill into law.

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What they’re saying

“It's amazing that you'll have restaurants that are sitting on the beach that are watching the shrimp boats go by that are using farm-raised imports.”

— John Wallace, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance and president of Anchored Shrimp Company

“They do over 95% of what the nation consumes is farm-raised and imported. We keep telling ourselves, well, we only have to hit 5% of the people that are willing to look for and ask for domestic wild-caught shrimp.”

— John Wallace, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance and president of Anchored Shrimp Company

What’s next

The bill now heads to the Georgia House for consideration before reaching Governor Kemp's desk for a final decision.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to bring more transparency to seafood sourcing in Georgia, empowering consumers to make informed choices and supporting the local shrimping industry, which faces stiff competition from cheaper imported shrimp. Similar efforts are underway in other coastal states as the push for seafood origin labeling grows.