Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
February 10, 2026 Economic development
Around 20 percent of global fisheries trade is the result of fraud. This figure is significantly higher than in the meat, fruit, and vegetable trade, primarily due to the diversity of species.
Today, a huge variety of fish and seafood—more than 12,000—can be found on store and market shelves, and scammers often exploit this to make easy money.
A new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines fisheries fraud as "deliberate practices aimed at misleading others" and includes several categories. Here are just a few:
Adulteration – for example, adding colorings to make tuna or salmon appear fresher; counterfeiting – for example, “shrimp production” from starch-based compounds; imitation – for example, selling minced fish as “crab sticks”; diversion – distributing legitimate products outside of their intended markets; false product positioning and labeling: fraudsters claim that products are “green” or mislead consumers about their origin and expiration dates; species substitution – for example, selling tilapia as red snapper.
Health hazard
As the FAO notes, fraud in the fish and seafood trade can harm human health, the environment, and economies.
The risks to humans are clear, as some types of fish are dangerous when eaten raw, and refreezing seafood increases the risk of bacterial growth.
Global problem
According to the organization, no continent or country—from Latin America to Asia—is immune to fish fraud. In the US alone, up to a third of all fish products are sold in packaging containing false or inaccurate information. However, only about one percent of such products are inspected.
Restaurants, the FAO emphasizes, are no exception – and they often receive goods with incorrect labeling (up to 30 percent).
Fish scams are easy money
Fraud in the fish trade is fueled by powerful economic incentives.
For example, selling farmed Atlantic salmon as Pacific salmon generates nearly $10 in additional profit per kilogram. Sea bass sold in Italy as a local product costs two to three times more than the same fish farmed in Greece or Turkey, and even more if sold as wild-caught.
Adding water to fish products to increase their weight and price is another easy way to sell them at a significantly higher price.
Tools for combating crime in the fishing industry
The FAO report recommends strengthening labelling requirements for fish and seafood, mandating the use of scientific names where possible, and improving monitoring systems.
FAO experts continuously develop international standards to combat food fraud and provide technical support to countries.
The organization reminds that modern technologies, including nuclear technology in some cases, can be used to check fish products, including for freezing, authenticity, and origin.
Efforts of countries
The report cites a number of coordinated anti-fraud efforts in Italy, Argentina and the United States.
For example, a study using so-called "DNA barcoding" conducted in Los Angeles found that mislabeling was rare among retail seafood products, while it was common in sushi restaurants. Mislabeling was rare among tuna and salmon products at the retail level, but widespread among red snapper and halibut.
Over 10 years, a local initiative bringing together industry, academic, and government officials has reduced the number of mislabeled products in some Los Angeles neighborhoods by two-thirds.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.