Shrimp Aid pavilion programming

Panel 1: 

 Gulf Tides: Shrimpers in Their Own Words – 12:00-1:30pm  

What does it mean to be a Louisiana shrimper in 2026? With record-high diesel costs, unsustainably low dock prices and a domestic market increasingly pressured by inexpensive farm-raised imports, Gulf shrimpers are confronting some of the most difficult economics their industry has faced. Hear directly from the people on the water about what it takes to keep going, what is at stake for their families and communities, and what they believe is needed to create a viable future for wild Gulf shrimp.

Panel 2:

Follow the Shrimp: Law, Enforcement & Economic Impact- 1:30-2:30 pm

Protecting the future of domestic wild shrimp requires more than consumer awareness. It requires effective laws, meaningful enforcement and a clear understanding of the economic consequences when the marketplace fails to distinguish between domestic and imported seafood.

Bringing together policy, enforcement and economic research, this session examines recent legislative action, the growing role of seafood testing in marketplace accountability, and new data revealing the economic impacts on shrimpers, fishing businesses and coastal communities. Together, the conversation asks how we move from recognizing the problem to building a seafood marketplace where transparency, enforcement and accountability actually work.

Cooking Demonstration- 2:30-3:30pm

Greta's Sushi presented by Four Sisters Rice

Panel 3:  

Out of the Box: Strategies, Opportunities & Solutions   - 3:30-5:00pm

What does the future of Gulf seafood look like if we think beyond the existing system? This panel explores how Gulf shrimpers and fishers can capture more of the value of what they harvest through product diversification, value recovery, new processing and market opportunities, and cooperative approaches. The conversation will also examine how promising ideas can be developed, funded and brought to scale—strengthening working waterfronts, keeping more seafood value and opportunity in coastal communities, and creating viable pathways for the next generation.