Genetic testing of shrimp at 22 Charleston restaurants found that only 5 restaurants were serving genuine wild-caught local shrimp, while the remaining 17 were selling farm-raised imports as local fare. This investigation, conducted by SeaD Consulting for the Southern Shrimp Alliance, revealed persistent mislabeling despite a year of scrutiny.

Last year's testing of 44 Charleston restaurants showed only 9% served authentic local shrimp, with the majority offering foreign farm-raised alternatives. The struggling shrimping industry argues this fraud undermines South Carolina's seafood reputation, where shrimp ranks as the state's No. 1 seafood. Seventy percent of seafood expenditures occur in restaurants, making accurate labeling critical for consumer choice and coastal economies.

The findings highlight the need for stronger labeling laws, with five of eight shrimping states already implementing disclosure requirements. Industry leaders are pushing for similar legislation in the Carolinas and Florida, arguing consumers deserve transparency about whether they're eating highly regulated American wild-caught shrimp or low-inspection-rate imports from Indonesia, Vietnam, or India.