TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Twenty-two restaurants in Tampa Bay were unknowingly put to the test this week over the origin of the shrimp on their menus.
This follows the same study conducted by the same organization, SeaD Consulting, in January 2024.
In that study, it was determined 42 out of 44 restaurants were serving shrimp that were not locally grown, despite what was listed on their menus.
“You can see that the majority of the time you’re not getting it, and that is somewhat depressing,” said David Williams, commercial fishery scientist and founder of SeaD consulting.
Salt Shack on the Bay in Tampa and Stillwaters Tavern in St. Petersburg were found to be the only restaurants to serve authentic, wild-caught Gulf shrimp.
The rest, which were not named, sold imported, farm-raised shrimp from overseas, according to the study.
Katherine Bovinette, chief operating officer of Salt Shack on the Bay, said she uses a distributor that works with local fishhouses.
“There’s a premium cost that comes to that but there’s also confidence and quality and a better taste that comes with it too,” she said.
The cheaper, imported shrimp is what’s hurting local fishermen the most, according to Southern Shrimp Alliance’s Blake Price.
“We’re seeing probably over a 60% reduction in the total effort of commercial shrimp trawl fishing,” Price said. “We’re seeing massive loss of infrastructure. We’re seeing very little recruitment. It’s simply primarily related to the mass influx of foreign, aquaculture raised shrimp that have flooded our markets.”
Price said labeling requirements by the state would help.
“People have a right to know what they’re eating and where it’s from,” he said.
SeaD Consulting just wrapped up another genetic test of the supposedly local shrimp being sold at Tampa Bay restaurants.
This time, samples were taken from 22 establishments, which had been tested before.
Because regulations have not changed, Williams expects similar results.
“We haven’t decided whether or not we’re going to name them,” Williams said. “We would prefer them to reconsider their options.”
Williams said the results from this new test should be made available early next week.
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