ATLANTA (WSAV) — Georgia house lawmakers made a move to support local shrimpers with a new bill passed on Wednesday.
House Bill 117 would require all restaurants in Georgia to disclose, in writing on their menu, if their shrimp is foreign imported.
State Rep. Jesse Petrea, a sponsor of the bill, previously spoke with News 3 about HB 177. He said that in his opinion, the shrimp industry locally is suffering from “unfair trade” practices.
"Consumers have a strong preference for U.S. wild-caught shrimp, valued for its sustainability, superior flavor, and crisp texture thanks to natural diets in local waters," Executive Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance John Williams said. "It's essential to protect both consumers and local jobs by taking action against deceptive advertising and seafood fraud in restaurants and grocery stores that dupe consumers into choosing imported shrimp under false claims."
The vote passed 165-7 and will move on to the Senate.
WSAV will continue to follow this bill. Stick with News 3 for more.