Fish lovers will soon be able to know for sure if the seafood they are buying is from Louisiana.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries launched the Louisiana Seafood Certification Program last week with the help of LSU AgCenter and other organizations according to the department’s website.
Rene LeBreton, program manager of Wildlife and Fisheries, said he wants people worldwide to associate seafood with Louisiana like how potatoes are associated with Idaho and lobsters are associated with Maine.
“Right now, our industry is competing with imports from all over the world,” LeBreton said. “Though there are many people who want to buy Louisiana seafood, they can’t distinguish.”
LeBreton said some seafood companies label their packages with Cajun names so consumers will assume they’re from Louisiana, but the seafood is often from places like China.
To be certified by the program, wild seafood must be caught off the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, landed in the state by a licensed Louisiana fisherman and be processed and packaged in Louisiana, LeBreton said.
Then, companies will be allowed to use the state’s official Louisiana Seafood Certification Program label on packages, he said.
LeBreton said restaurants will also be allowed to promote that they sell the certified seafood.
Local restaurants like ACME Oyster House take pride in serving Louisiana seafood, said Ryan Nizzo, ACME general manager.
“People try to stay local. People want to give back,” Nizzo said.
He called it “incredibly significant” that ACME always cooks Louisiana seafood unless there is a supply issue like in cases of storms.
Nizzo said he has heard of the Louisiana Seafood Certification Program, but he said he couldn’t speak on behalf of ACME on whether the restaurant will participate.
Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant also only serves Louisiana seafood, said kitchen manager Mitch Lowry.
“It’s local. It’s fresh,” Lowry said. “It doesn’t have to travel too far.”
Lowry said he hadn’t heard of the program, but he will look into participating.
LeBreton said consumers can expect to see the logo in about six weeks, depending on how quickly producers sign up.
LeBreton said he hopes the Louisiana economy will benefit from the program if there is an increase in demand for Louisiana seafood.
“With the demand, we’ll be getting to see maybe some price increases,” LeBreton said. “People are going to start wanting this brand and wanting Louisiana seafood.”
Supporting the “100 percent Louisiana product” isn’t just important to businesses, but to the state’s culture, said Ewell Smith, executive director of Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board.
“Louisiana seafood defines the culture and heritage of this state,” Smith said. “We have seven or eight generations of families that fish [in Louisiana].”
