Domestic shrimpers losing market share and income to cheaper, lower-quality imported shrimp

Louisiana and Southern shrimpers face severe economic pressure from foreign shrimp imports that undercut prices and lack equivalent safety/quality standards, threatening their livelihoods and forcing them to advocate for protective legislation. Current trade enforcement mechanisms fail to adequately protect domestic producers from hazardous or substandard imports, leaving shrimpers unable to compete on price while maintaining higher operational costs and safety standards.