Dear Valued Customer:

Thank you for your purchase of fresh shrimp, caught in American waters by Americans. Did you know that 5 of every 6 pounds of shrimp eaten here in the United States are imported from some other foreign country? Also nine out of ten people in Texas eat seafood.

Last year 25 more foreign countries got permission to import farm raised shrimp to the United States. The U.S. does not regulate to these countries as to what they feed their shrimp, therefore, we Americans do not know what we are eating when we buy shrimp from imported countries. These countries do NOT regulate chemicals and animal antibiotics such as chloramphenicol, which are banned in the U.S., Canada and the European Union. What the shrimp are fed determines the flavor of the shrimp.

Because of foreign imported shrimp, our prices are driven down and pressure is put on the Parks and Wildlife by Special Interest Groups to impose more regulations on us. The statistics sate that since 1985, 7 out of 8 commercial shrimpers have gone out of business.

If this trend continues, the day will come when you can no longer go to your local seafood market, commercial shrimper or restaurant and buy fresh American shrimp. It will all be frozen, farm-raised shrimp imported from some foreign communist country. We can stop this from happening with a little help from you , the consumer.

There are many ways that you can help.

• Continue to buy your fresh seafood from your local American market and from your local shrimper.
• Please send the link to this web page to all of your seafood loving friends and family so they can be informed about this serious situation.
• Inform the Parks and Wildlife by phone, email, or mail not to regulate your commercial shrimper out of business because this is the only way you have of getting fresh American shrimp on your table.
• Join PISCES (Professional Involvement in Seafood Concerned EnterpriseS) The membership fee is $25 a year to help pay expenses. PISCES is a non-profit organization and as a member you will receive a newsletter to inform you of what is going on in the shrimping industry

Besides providing delicious shrimp and crabs for your dinner table, American shrimpers provide live and dead bait for your fishing pleasure. Hopefully with your help, we will continue to provide American seafood for you and your family.

Thanks
Ron Galloway
Your local American Shrimper