The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has fired back after Louisiana shrimp were “red-listed” by a California aquarium's seafood program that's popular with environmentally conscious people and followed by national retailers.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program has recommended all shrimp harvested from Louisiana be avoided because state law doesn't allow local officials to enforce federal turtle excluder device requirements to protect sea turtles and other creatures from being caught accidentally by shrimpers.
Calling the label unfair, LDWF Secretary Robert Barham wrote the aquarium's director asking them to rethink the decision.
Barham said he believes the label unfairly hurts the many shrimpers who do use excluders. While state officials can't fine violators, they are referred to federal officials who do enforce penalties, he added.
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