The popularity of seafood around the globe is undeniable. Everyone loves a great seafood dinner, but do you really know where it came from? Much of the seafood we see in markets has been imported from parts unknown. Many countries export seafood but do not have the ability or desire to regulate the harvest or farming of their seafood products.
Sustainable, wild-caught seafood from Louisiana is preferred for its quality and wild-caught flavor, but until now, it was hard to know one product from another in the marketplace.
Through the cooperation of the Louisiana seafood industry, LDWF and fishermen, seafood from Louisiana’s waters can be branded “Certified Authentic Louisiana Wild Seafood.”
When you see this seal, you know you’re about to experience the best-tasting wild-caught seafood in the world. Louisiana Seafood has a fresh flavor and quality like no other which makes our seafood a true delicacy.
Here, in Louisiana, the freshwater minerals from two major rivers – the Mississippi and Atchafalaya – combine with the salt water from the Gulf, creating one of the most productive natural habitats in the world.
For more information on this program, Click HERE. Certified Seafood participants can be found HERE.
What is Certified Louisiana Wild Seafood?
The Department of Wildlife & Fisheries has established the Louisiana Wild Seafood Certification Program to ensure customers and consumers are getting the freshest, best quality seafood in the world – Louisiana Seafood. The program guarantees that all Certified Louisiana Seafood is caught in the Gulf of Mexico or Louisiana coastal or inland waters by a licensed Louisiana fishermen, landed at a Louisiana dock, and processed and packaged by a Louisiana-based company. The program provides additional education for docks and processors that teach them safe, best handling practices and sanitation guidelines when dealing with seafood. There is a strict chain of custody that is traceable to ensure that seafood with the Certified logo is a product of Louisiana. Every dollar spent on the purchase of Certified Louisiana Seafood directly supports the vibrant Louisiana fishing industry. So whether its shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico, crawfish out of the Atchafalaya Basin, oysters from the beds in Plaquemines Parish, catfish from the bayous of Des Allemandes, or crabs caught in Lake Pontchartrain, you can be confident that when you see that logo, you are getting Certified Authentic Louisiana Seafood.
Who benefits from the purchase of this seafood?
It’s estimated that 1 in every 5 wild caught fish are taken illegally, which adds up to nearly $23 billion worth of illegal seafood harvested annually. A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations are linked to criminal entities that use fishing vessels to conduct other criminal activities, such as illicit drug trade, slavery, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, all which have national security implications.
All Certified Louisiana Seafood comes from sustainable fisheries under proven responsible management systems, harvested with the latest fishing gear that reduces bycatch and diminishes environmental impact.
