Residents of Tangipahoa Parish in Louisiana have been living with a persistent and overwhelming fishy odor for years, and it’s become so bad that many can’t escape it—even inside their own homes.
The town of Independence, located next to the parish, is particularly affected by the stench, which residents believe is coming from the nearby Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood plant.
The Source of the Stink: Wastewater from Shrimp Processing Plant
Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood, owned by Big Easy Foods, processes shrimp and other seafood products in the area.
Residents claim that the wastewater from the plant is being dumped into the local treatment facility, which is unable to handle the excess.
As a result, the wastewater often overflows or remains untreated, leaving behind a pungent smell that resembles rotting shrimp.
Darlene Genova, one of the affected residents, described the situation as a “nightmare.”
The smell is so overpowering that she’s had to resort to covering her nose with a towel soaked in fabric softener just to survive inside her own home.
“You can’t even go outside. It’s just too strong,” she shared.
The Town of Independence Struggles with the Odor
Independence, a small town with a population of around 1,600 people, has a few local businesses like a Piggly Wiggly and a handful of restaurants.
But for many residents, the most noticeable feature is the unbearable smell that lingers in the air.
Even visiting the local deli has become an unpleasant experience, with the smell of shrimp permeating the area, especially when workers from the Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood plant are nearby.
The shrimp processing plant, located on the edge of Independence, uses the town’s wastewater treatment facility to dispose of its waste.
However, the small facility has been overwhelmed by the plant’s high volume of waste, leaving the town with a constant odor problem.
Overflowing Wastewater and Health Concerns in the Community
The wastewater from the plant is supposed to go to an oxidation pond before being mixed with the town’s regular wastewater.
But residents suspect that Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood is bypassing the system and dumping directly into the treatment plant.
The result has been not only an unbearable smell but also an increase in fly infestations in the town.
Victor Coslan, another resident, revealed that he was forced to put his house up for sale due to the smell.
However, potential buyers are quickly turned off by the stench, and his home has yet to sell.
“People pull up and they’re like, ‘Oh, what’s that smell?’ and they get back in their car and leave,” he said.
Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood Promises to Fix the Issue Amid Growing Frustration
Despite numerous complaints from residents and visits from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, no permanent solution has been reached.
At a special town meeting on April 3, Gulf Island Shrimp & Seafood promised to address the issues at the plant.
The town council gave the seafood company 30 days to resolve the smell, warning that failure to do so could result in the revocation of the company’s permits.
However, local residents remain skeptical, with some like Darlene Genova referring to the meeting as a “dog and pony show.” “They’re looking at a $17 million water treatment project.
No way that’s gonna happen,” she said, expressing doubt that any real change will occur.
