TX HCR76

Urges the federal government to curb mass importation of foreign shrimp to protect the Gulf Coast shrimping industry from unfair competition and consumers from substandard products not meeting U.S. health standards

Texas shrimp industry supports more than 14,000 jobs and generates approximately $850 million in economic value

Imports of frozen warmwater shrimp nearly doubled between 2013 and 2021 to 1.8 billion pounds; Texas shrimpers harvested only 6.8 million pounds in the first five months of 2023 compared to 800 million pounds imported in the first half of the year

Foreign shrimp is often farm-raised and subsidized, allowing producers to undercut domestic prices; a 2015 Consumer Reports investigation found dangerous bacteria, antibiotics, and drug residues in over half of tested shrimp from Ecuador and India, yet the FDA inspects less than 1% of imported seafood

Directs the Texas Secretary of State to forward copies of this resolution to the President, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries