A new South Carolina law will force restaurant operators to tell customers where they’re getting their shrimp. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed the Truth in Shrimp Labeling Act (House Bill 4248) into law during the first week of July 2026.
The legislation requires restaurants to disclose whether their shrimp is local or imported by posting signs at their entrances and disclaimers on their menus.
Legislators say the move will increase transparency and help to protect the state’s commercial shrimping industry, which has been in need of help for many years now.
Local shrimpers and business owners across the Lowcountry have been vocal about the need for clearer labeling to protect the quality of South Carolina seafood and prevent imported shrimp from being falsely marketed as local caught.
South Carolina became the sixth state to pass a seafood transparency law.Restaurants have until October 28th to disclose whether their shrimp is a local or imported product.
The law comes after a seafood consulting company tested shrimp served at local Charleston-area restaurants last year. The study ultimately found that right around less than 10% of them were serving domestic wild-caught shrimp.
The transparency brings more opportunity to local shrimpers—and, it brings a much better quality and healthier product to area consumers.
There is absolutely no doubt that the law will help local shrimpers. The shrimping industry in the ACE Basin is historic, and is of primary importance to a number of small coastal communities including Bennett’s Point, Edisto Beach, and larger towns such as Beaufort.
The long history of shrimping in our area has resulted in extensive economic and social components. Families have depended on commercial shrimping for generations.
Today, the industry has sustained massive challenges by the large market for imported shrimp because, sadly, the majority of the shrimp consumed in the United States is imported and a product of aquaculture.
When you see a local restaurant or seafood market offering ‘fresh local shrimp’, buy it. Yes, you’re supporting the restaurant or market……but you’re also supporting the person that caught the shrimp. And, you’re consuming a healthier product.
That’s a winning situation.
