Wilmington and Surrounding Beach Areas Shrimp Scene Tarnished: 77% of Restaurants Mislead Diners with Imported Shrimp Masquerading as Local

Wilmington, NC – April 29, 2025 – As travelers flock to Wilmington’s scenic coastlines and historic riverfront for its rich culture and renowned coastal cuisine, many are unknowingly being served foreign, farm-raised shrimp disguised as local catch. In a recent investigation by SEAD Consulting, commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), randomized genetic testing revealed a 77% fraud rate in shrimp served at Wilmington-area seafood restaurants.

From April 9-12, 2025, SEAD Consulting conducted its RIGHTTest™—a portable, rapid, high-accuracy genetic analysis—on shrimp samples from 44 randomly selected restaurants throughout Wilmington and nearby coastal towns of North Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach. The results were unsettling:

  • 34 out of 44 seafood establishments tested (77%) were serving imported, farm-raised shrimp while implying or outright marketing them as U.S. wild-caught shrimp.
  • Of those 34 restaurants serving farm-raised shrimp, 25 of them were explicitly saying they were serving local shrimp on their menus and/or it was verbalized by the staff, not just implied.
  • Only 10 restaurants out of the 44 sampled were verified to be authentically serving wild-caught shrimp.

This study, funded by Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA), marks another alarming chapter in a pattern of seafood fraud documented across the South. You can see how the study is shaping up across multiple states here.

“It’s incredibly disappointing to see restaurants mislead consumers in Wilmington, and in most tested markets, about the origin of their shrimp,” said John Williams, Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “American shrimpers harvest sustainable, high-quality shrimp from our local waters while competing against farm-raised shrimp imports, much of which reduce costs through use of forced labor, banned antibiotics, and environmental harms. When restaurants mislead customers, they not only damage consumer trust—they undercut the local shrimping economy and culture.”

Wilmington’s Coastal Identity and Local Shrimp Heritage

Wilmington draws more than 9 million visitors annually, many of whom come seeking the quintessential taste of the Carolina coast: sweet, firm, wild-caught shrimp from the Atlantic. With its bustling riverfront restaurants, fresh fish markets, and famed seafood festivals, Wilmington is deeply rooted in a tradition of local, sustainable shrimping.

But as President Trump’s newly announced tariffs on imported seafood, including an additional 10% duty on foreign shrimp imports, seek to boost domestic producers, the findings from this study highlight a glaring loophole: deceptive restaurant practices. Tariffs may make imported shrimp less attractive pricewise, but they do not prevent mislabeling on the menu. False advertising harms the U.S. shrimp industry, honest local restaurants, and consumers.

Mislabeling and the Law

Unlike several states in the Southeast region, North Carolina does not have current or pending legislation for seafood labeling laws to require restaurants to accurately disclose whether shrimp are wild-caught or farm-raised and include the country of origin if asked. As of now, the fraudulent activity falls under Federal law, specifically to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), that says businesses must not only avoid outright lies, but also “ensure that the net impression of their advertising is truthful and not misleading.” That means even subtle menu cues, décor, or servers’ descriptions suggesting local sourcing can qualify as fraud if the shrimp is imported.

Genetic Testing Leads the Way to Authentic Food Labeling

Co-Founder and COO of SEAD Consulting Erin Williams pointed out, “This is exactly why SEAD Consulting partnered with Florida State University to create the RIGHTTest—to bring transparency to the table. Without genetic testing, there’s simply no way to know what’s being served, nor a meaningful way to hold restaurants accountable. We want to promote the restaurants correctly labeling their shrimp dishes and eventually have enforcement and fines issued for those who are not. Genetic testing is an essential tool to protect the American wild-caught seafood industry.”

Authentic Restaurants Committed to Local Shrimp

The testing, which covers a representative random selection of area restaurants, informs seafood consumers of the need to ask questions about the source of their shrimp. While there may be other area restaurants that use local shrimp, the following 10 Wilmington-area restaurants were confirmed to be serving authentic U.S. wild-caught shrimp:

  1. Princess Seafood, 3016 Princess Pl Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405
  2. Cape Fear Seafood Company, 143 Poole Rd, Belville, NC 28451
  3. Seaview Crab Company, 1515 Marstellar St, Wilmington, NC 28401
  4. Shuckin’ Shack, 127 N Front St, Wilmington, NC 28401
  5. Coquina Fishbar, 890 Town Center Dr, Wilmington, NC 28405
  6. King Neptune, 11 N Lumina Ave, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
  7. Flying Oyster Machine & Bar, 530 Causeway Dr T-1, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
  8. Carolina BBQ & Seafood, 1602 College Rd, Wilmington, NC 28403
  9. Boathouse Calabash Seafood, 6328 Oleander Dr, Wilmington, NC 28403
  10. Riverview Restaurant, 121 Riverfront Rd, Fort Fisher Blvd S, Kure Beach, NC 28449

Restaurants Found Misleading Customers

The remaining 34 restaurants will receive formal notification from SEAD Consulting and SSA, requesting they correct their menu descriptions and sourcing claims. Follow-up testing will be conducted later this year to monitor authenticity.

A Call to Action for Diners and Restaurants

Consumers are encouraged to patronize the authentic restaurants found in the sampling investigation and to ask restaurants where the shrimp they are serving comes from. Diners can request proof if uncertain, asking to see the box or packaging the shrimp came in. Restaurants should embrace transparency and celebrate the availability of local seafood rather than mislead diners.

“There’s no shame in selling imported shrimp,” said David Williams of SEAD Consulting. “But there’s a big problem when you pretend it’s local. Let consumers decide with the truth.”

About Southern Shrimp Alliance

The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is a collective of shrimp fishermen, processors, and industry advocates from the eight warmwater shrimp-producing states. SSA supports domestic shrimpers through advocacy, research, and consumer education. Visit https://shrimpalliance.com to learn more about their work.

 

About SEAD Consulting

SEAD (Seafood Development) Consulting partners with fishermen, academics, government agencies, and nonprofits to develop solutions that protect seafood integrity. SEAD’s patented RIGHTTest™, developed in partnership with Florida State University, is the industry’s first portable, rapid, and affordable genetic test designed to combat seafood mislabeling in real-time. Learn more or report suspected fraud at: www.seadconsulting.com/contact-us
#SEADConsulting #KnowYourShrimp #RIGHTTest