Mississippi Seafood Industry Pushes for Stricter Labeling Laws

New state and federal legislation aims to combat mislabeling and boost domestic seafood sales

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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The Mississippi seafood industry, led by fifth-generation commercial fisherman Ryan Bradley, is advocating for stricter seafood labeling laws at both the state and federal level. The goal is to combat the widespread mislabeling of imported seafood as domestic, which has hurt local fishermen and processors. New laws in Mississippi and a federal bill introduced by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith aim to require clear country-of-origin and production method labeling for all seafood products.

Why it matters

Accurate seafood labeling is crucial for the survival of Mississippi's historic seafood industry, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years from natural disasters to competition from cheap imported seafood. Requiring clear labeling will allow consumers to make informed choices and support local fishermen, boosting the regional economy.

The details

The Mississippi Seafood Labeling Law, which went into effect last year, requires wholesalers, processors, retailers and food service establishments to label seafood as domestic or imported. At the federal level, the Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act, introduced by Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, would mandate prominent country-of-origin and production method labeling on all seafood products. Industry leaders like Ryan Bradley believe these measures will help restore consumer trust, safeguard the integrity of the Gulf Coast seafood heritage, and give domestic producers a fair chance to compete.

  • The Mississippi Seafood Labeling Law went into effect in 2025.
  • The LABEL Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate in late 2025.

The players

Ryan Bradley

A fifth-generation commercial fisherman and executive director of Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United, an industry group formed in 1974 to advocate for the needs of the seafood industry.

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

A U.S. Senator from Mississippi who introduced the federal LABEL Act to require clear country-of-origin and production method labeling for all seafood products.

Joe Spraggins

The Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, which enforces the new state seafood labeling law in the southern part of the state.

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What they’re saying

“This is about local fishermen working in their natural environment, not being able to compete against an epidemic of fraud that's taken place where distributors of seafood are mislabeling the country of origin on what they're selling.”

— Ryan Bradley, Executive Director, Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United (msbusinessjournal.com)

“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. 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.”

— Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (msbusinessjournal.com)

“We've had a lot of challenges with the seafood industry with disasters like the spillway, and our poor fishermen have weathered it all. They really need all the support they can get and a great way for the average consumer to do so is to ask every time they eat seafood, hey, where is this coming from?”

— Ryan Bradley, Executive Director, Mississippi Commercial Fisheries United (msbusinessjournal.com)

What’s next

The LABEL Act has been referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, where it will be considered and potentially advanced to a full Senate vote.

The takeaway

Accurate seafood labeling is crucial for the survival of Mississippi's historic seafood industry, which has faced numerous challenges in recent years. The new state and federal laws aim to combat widespread mislabeling, restore consumer trust, and give domestic producers a fair chance to compete against cheap imported seafood.