Wild American Shrimp®, the American Shrimp Processors Association’s marketing program for wild-caught Gulf and South Atlantic Shrimp, has added former World Seafood Champion Chef James Aptakin as its latest Chef Advocate.

Aptakin makes a great addition to the Wild American Shrimp team, bringing South American exotic flavors mixed with California flair and Pan-Asian-Hawaiian fusion to his dishes. Aptakin, who is owner of catering company, Layers of Flavor, Honolulu, Hawaii, is proud to represent Wild American Shrimp.

“I believe in using wild caught, American shrimp whenever I cook with shrimp,” says Chef Aptakin, “I look forward to demonstrating and advocating for others to do the same.”

Among his many accolades, Aptakin is a two-time first place winner of the World Seafood Competition and first Runner-up

Chef Aptakin competing in the World Food Championships in November 2017

Reserve Champion of the 2016 World Food Championships. Most recently, he was one of five chefs featured in 2017 World Food Championships on the Food Network in February 2018. Chef Aptakin and Wild American Shrimp Chef Advocate Michael DiBuono were sponsored by Wild American Shrimp at the November event.

Wild American Shrimp Chef Advocates inspire and educate chefs, other culinary professionals and food lovers about the unique qualities of Wild American Shrimp as compared to farmed, imported shrimp. Using a variety of methods, Wild American Shrimp Chef Advocates showcase how shrimp from the nutrient-rich Gulf and South Atlantic waters can be incorporated into a range of culinary dishes.

Chef Aptakin’s taped appearance at 2017 World Food Championships will be aired on the Travel Channel’s Best in Food program on Wednesday, May 2 at 12 p.m. EST.

To view more information about Chef Aptakin and to view all Chef Advocates, please visit www.americanshrimp.com/chef-advocates

About Wild American Shrimp and ASPA: The American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA), based in Biloxi, Mississippi, was formed in 1964 to represent and promote the interests of the domestic, U.S. wild-caught, warm water shrimp processing industry along the Gulf Coast and South Atlantic, with members from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. ASPA is the collective voice of the industry, and its focus is to promote the interests of shrimp processors, other segments of the U.S. domestic, wild-caught shrimp industry and the general public. To learn more about Wild American Shrimp and ASPA visit www. americanshrimp.com