Louisiana Seafood Why Buy Domestic?

American seafood, and Louisiana Seafood in particular, is a premium product with a unique flavor that is a result of the waters where it lives and grows. Chefs nationwide swear by domestic seafood—its freshness, quality and flavor bring value and diners to their restaurants day in and day out.

And all along the nation’s shorelines—Louisiana alone has 7,721 miles—you’ll find an industry built on the localized, often family-run businesses that supply our nation with fresh domestic seafood. Since the best seafood comes from right here, make sure the best seafood is what you’re buying.

Their harmonious combination of brackish water, shallow depths and high levels of nutrients form an ideal environment for microscopic marine organisms, which in turn form the base of the marine food chain by fostering healthy populations of fish, amphibians and shellfish. In an estuary, every species plays its part.

The scientific story of what makes our waters so plentiful starts with our estuaries. And if you're lucky, it ends on your plate.

KNOW YOUR LABELS
Country of Origin Labels (or COOL) are now required for seafood sold in the U.S. The seafood's country of origin and method of production (wild-caught or farm-raised) must be labeled at the point of sale. Retailers are required to get this information from their seafood suppliers and display it in-store.

FLIP THE BAG
When seafood is frozen, it can be a little harder to find COOL information. Often, you'll have to search the back of a bag of frozen shrimp, for example, to find exactly where the product came from.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
Consumers are loyal to auto body shops, hairdressers, pharmacists and the like, building relationships with them through years of patronage. Building a similar trust-based relationship with a local grocer or fishmonger. A reliable, knowledgeable retailer can be a wealth of information about food origin, quality and safety—talk to whoever is behind your fish counter and get to know their product.

ASK ABOUT IT
When you’re dining out, take advantage of the knowledge of the staff and ask your servers to share what they know about the seafood on their menu. Most establishments will proudly inform their diners about the premium products on their menus—it justifies the cost of their dishes and it legitimizes their kitchen. So don’t be afraid to ask about the seafood’s origin before you order.