Company retests Savannah seafood restaurants to determine local shrimp authenticity

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - Last year, a genetic seafood testing company tested 44 restaurants in Savannah city limits and Tybee Island in random selection to determine if they were serving imported or domestic shrimp.

In 2025 their testing revealed only 10 out of 44 local seafood spots actually sold authentic, local seafood.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Company tests 44 Savannah seafood restaurants to determine local shrimp authenticity

SeaD Consulting, the company conducting the testing, said a new survey reveals some improvement, but not enough, for consumers wanting American wild-caught shrimp.

Company conducts follow-up testing

The follow-up testing found that only 9 out of 22 shrimp dishes sampled were confirmed to contain American wild-caught shrimp. Meanwhile, 13 out of 22 dishes tested as imported or farm-raised shrimp.

SeaD Consulting said 12 of those 13 imported dishes were explicitly misrepresented through menu claims or verbal assurances that the shrimp were local or wild-caught.

“This retest confirms exactly why Georgia needed stronger transparency laws,” said Georgia State Representative Jesse Petrea. “Consumers deserve honest information about the seafood they are consuming, and Georgia shrimpers deserve a fair marketplace.”

Petrea said the passage of Georgia’s shrimp labeling law through House Bill 117 was an important first step, but now must be enforced in the existing food service inspection process.

SEE: Georgia Senate passes shrimp transparency bill to protect local industry and inform diners

SeaD Consulting shares retest results

The nine restaurants found to be serving American Wild-Caught Shrimp Dishes in the Savannah retest were:

• Boar’s Head Grill & Tavern
• Coastal 15
• Fiddler’s Crab House and Oyster Bar
• Huey’s on the River
• Jackie’s Seafood Market
• Rhett
• Sea Wolf
• Sting Ray’s Seafood
• The Olde Pink House

SeaD Consulting said six out of the nine restaurants above served American wild-caught shrimp during both testing periods. They identified the restaurants as Boar’s Head Grill and Tavern, Coastal 15, Fiddler’s Crab House and Oyster Bar, Rhett, Sea Wolf and the Old Pink House.

The company said three restaurants that served American wild-caught shrimp this testing period served imported shrimp during the last testing period. SeaD Consulting also found three restaurants that had previously served authentic American wild-caught shrimp were found during the retest to instead be serving imported farm-raised product.

“That reversal is incredibly disappointing,” said Blake Price, Director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance. “It shows that restaurants known to use American wild-caught shrimp sometimes serve imports of unknown origin without proper disclosure. Accountability cannot depend on one round of testing — there has to be continued oversight if we want meaningful change. How can Georgia and its tourists support local fishermen, sustainable harvesting, and enjoy the superior flavor of U.S. wild-caught shrimp, if there isn’t honest labeling?”

Retesting reveals troubling pricing trends

SeaD Consulting said retesting revealed troubling pricing trends.

According to the SeaD Consulting, the highest-priced shrimp dish sampled in the study, costing $38, was an explicitly misrepresented imported/farm-raised shrimp dish. By comparison, the highest-priced correctly labeled American wild-caught shrimp dish cost $32. Even the lowest-priced mislabeled dish exceeded the price of the lowest-priced American wild-caught shrimp dish, said SeaD Consulting.

“Dishonest restaurants are profiting off the reputation and hard work of local shrimpers without actually paying for their product. Consumers are paying premium prices believing they are supporting Georgia’s fishing heritage, when in reality many are being sold imported/farm-raised shrimp instead,” said Erin Williams, Founder and COO of SeaD Consulting.

SeaD Consulting said findings indicate that widespread shrimp misrepresentation persists throughout Savannah’s tourism-driven seafood market.