'Seafood fraud' widespread in Canada, says ocean advocacy group

A recent investigation, which tested seafood bought in Montreal, found more than half of the samples were mislabelled, adding to mountingevidencethat "Canada has a widespread and unchecked seafood fraud problem,"according to an ocean conservation group.

The report, published today, is the most up-to-date look at what actually ends up on Canadians'dinner plates when they buy fish.

• Widespread mislabelling of seafood reported in cities across Canada

Out of a total of 472 seafood samples the group has tested in the country between 2017 and 2019,47 per cent were found to have been mislabelled.

Montreal is the sixth and latest city where advocacy groupOceana Canadahas investigated fish mislabelling. This past July, the charity took 90 seafood samples from 50 grocery stores and restaurants across Montreal and sent them off to a lab for DNA testing.

It discovered that 61 per cent were mislabelled in some way, and34 per cent were an entirely different species than advertised.

Not so wild salmon, snapper not as advertised

"In most cases, we see a more expensive fish substituted with a less expensive species," said Sayara Thurston, seafood fraud campaigner with Oceana Canada.

She recommends consumers always do their research, especially with these types of fish:

• Red snapper (often substituted with less expensive tilapia).
• Anything advertised as "wild,"such as wild salmon (often substituted with farmed Atlantic salmon).
• Tuna (often substituted with escolar).

When fish are not as advertised, there can be health impacts, as well as consequences for marine life, Thurston said.

"One of the problems that we see with seafood fraud is that it allows illegally fished products to take on a new legal identity. Right now in Canada, it's very easy to sell a product into Canada. We ask very little of products that are imported here," she said.

Oceana Canada said its Montreal research helps round out the portrait of fish mislabelling in Canada, which the group says has clearly not been dealt with.

Widespread mislabelling

Previous findings from investigations in other Canadian cities include:

• 67 per cent of samples from Victoriaweremislabelled.
• 59 per centof samples from Torontoweremislabelled.
• 46 per centof samples from Ottawaweremislabelled.
• 38 per centof samples from Halifaxweremislabelled.
• 26per centof samples from Vancouverweremislabelled.

Thurston said Oceana Canada doesn'tname the stores or restaurants where the fraudulent fish was found, because the retailersareoften unaware that what they're selling is not the real deal.

"Businesses can, themselves, be victims of seafood fraud. Canadians should be vigilant and ask questions, but the real solution here is going to be a legislative one," she said.

Oceana Canada is calling onFisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA) torequire catch documentation for all domestic and imported seafood. They say that's in line with current European Unionrequirements.

Call for traceability on seafood products

It's also asking the federal government to create what's called a "boat-to-plate traceability system" that would follow all seafood products throughthe supply chain, from where the fishare farmed or caught to the final point of sale.

She said it's encouraging to see that it's an issue that has come up during the federal election campaign the Conservatives, Liberals and NDPhave all committed to acting on this issue in their election platforms.

For now, if consumers are worried what they're buying might not be as advertised, Thurstonrecommends asking retailers about the species of fish and where it comes from, and shopping at smaller, local businesses that know their supply chains well.

The CFIAsaid it needs more time to analyze the investigation's findings before it can comment on the report.

A statement from the government body acknowledged the work ofOceana Canada, in bringing attention to this issue, but added thatfood fraud occurs around the world.

CFIA said it continues to work to protect consumers from food misrepresentation by carrying out inspections and analyzing food samples.