By Mike Keller

Wal-Mart seafood counters in Alabama, Florida, and Texas will carry only wild shrimp caught in American waters, thanks to overwhelming demand by consumers, a shrimp-industry group said Thursday.

Almost 300 stores in the three states will carry only shrimp caught in the Gulf and South Atlantic through distributor Penguin Frozen Foods, one of the nation's largest suppliers of domestic shrimp.

"Wal-Mart's decision to exclusively feature domestic wild-caught shrimp at seafood counters in three states will help sustain an important industry and traditional way of life in our country," said Mark Watters, the director of retail operations at Penguin.

The company's move to back American shrimpers could put a dent in a shrimp market dominated by Southeast Asian imports.

According to Wild American Shrimp, an industry group, about 85 percent of shrimp eaten in America comes from another country, with Thailand, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh leading the suppliers.

Wal-Mart decided to sell American shrimp exclusively after a November

2005 agreement to offer both American and foreign shrimp in 900 stores.

"The response was so overwhelming from consumers that these three states will sell the U.S. product exclusively," said Jenny Schmitt, a spokeswoman for Wild American Shrimp. "The cost is lower on foreign shrimp but it's a different product. We certify American shrimp for size, quality and flavor."

Richard Gollott, an owner of shrimp processor Golden Gulf Coast Packing, a competitor of Penguin Frozen Foods, thinks Wal-Mart's decision was good for consumers and shrimpers.

"Any time we can move into more markets we didn't have previously, it creates more demand for our product and prices move up," Gollott said.

"We need to help the fishermen from going out of business. We would like to have more Americans eat domestic shrimp."