Fishing and aquaculture are a major global economic activity. In 2022, 185 million tons of fish, molluscs, shellfish and other aquatic products were produced, worth $195 billion. Unfortunately, all commercial activity is inevitably accompanied by fraud.
With more than 12,000 species marketed and given the complexity of the multiple control authorities present throughout the international supply chains, this situation is not really surprising. Fraud is particularly common in restaurants and catering services, where it is difficult to make visual identification, as well as in processed products, where the identity of the species can be concealed.
Species substitution and mislabeling are the most common forms of fraud: studies show that worldwide, at least 20 percent of fishery and aquaculture products are mislabeled.
Generally motivated by economic reasons, fraud nevertheless poses significant risks to public health, consumer confidence and marine conservation.
In order to raise consumer awareness of this type of practice and promote greater transparency in the sector, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published a report in 2026 entitled Food fraud in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, which highlights the current situation and the measures taken to remedy it.
Here are some of the « doubtful » practices described in the report, which consumers are encouraged to pay attention to:
1- Sneaky additions – Adulteration is the process of adding inauthentic or fraudulent substances to the final product, such as dyes, water or other fillers. Thus, adding additives to tuna to give it a fresher appearance or to change the color of its flesh constitutes adulteration. This type of fraudulent additions can expose to an increased risk of disease.
2- Dangerous counterfeits – When all aspects of an original product are fraudulently reproduced and the product is packaged in a way that resembles the original, it is referred to as food fraud by counterfeiting.
3- Imitations – Simulation, on the other hand, refers to a product that resembles another, without being an exact copy. In other words, it is a falsified version of the original.
Generally motivated by economic reasons, fraud poses significant risks to public health, consumer confidence and marine conservation. Top, left: ©FAO/Ricardo Castelo – bottom, right: FAO/Erika Santelices
4- Market intruders – We speak of embezzlement when legitimate products are sold or distributed outside the markets for which they were intended. This is the case, for example, when fish or other aquatic products are imported from a country that is not allowed to export to that market.
5- Misleading allegations – False labeling consists of providing false or misleading information on the packaging, for example inaccurate claims regarding the durability of the product or its organic certification.
6- Surplus production – When products are legitimate, but produced beyond the established limits, we speak of overproduction. The overfishing of certain species and the sale of surplus production outside the regulated circuits are examples.
7- Substitution – The substitution of species consists of replacing a species of high value with a cheaper species in order to generate an additional benefit. This is the case, for example, when farmed salmon is sold as wild salmon, or when the red vivan (Lutjanus campechanus) is replaced by tilapia.
8- Misinformation – We speak of falsification and incorrect labeling when a legitimate product and its packaging are used fraudulently. This may consist, for example, of modifying the information relating to the expiry date. Fraudulent labeling can also consist of giving a misleading indication of the origin or method of production of the product, for example by presenting farmed fish as wild fish. Mislabelled products can pose health risks, including exposure to toxins, allergens, pathogens or contaminants, especially when they come from unauthorized sources or escape health safety controls.
9- Stolen products – We speak of theft when a product is stolen and then presented as if it had been legally purchased. Stolen products are distributed outside of regulated or controlled supply chains.
FAO fights fraud by working with governments and international organizations to harmonize labeling requirements, make scientific names mandatory and implement better traceability systems. ©FAO/Ricardo Castelo
These nine types of fraud all have serious health, economic and environmental consequences.
Faced with this complex and widespread problem, FAO fights against fraud in this sector by working with governments and international organizations to harmonize labeling requirements, make the indication of scientific names mandatory and implement better traceability systems.
International standards, including the Codex Alimentarius, FAO directives and national legislation, make a key contribution to the regulation of this sector and the compliance of fishery products.
Technology also plays a major role in ensuring the authenticity and health safety of products. Advanced DNA-based methods and technologies, such as DNA barcodes, polymerase chain amplification, and next-generation sequencing, are useful for accurately identifying species, especially aquatic products processed or composed of multiple species. In addition, innovative techniques, such as portable X-ray fluorescence devices and machine learning models, appear as tools to quickly verify the origin of products.
The fight against food fraud in the aquatic sector requires coordinated action based on strict enforcement of the regulations, advanced analytical tools, stakeholder collaboration and public awareness. The FAO report makes practical recommendations to strengthen global efforts to ensure the authenticity, health safety and integrity of aquatic products and help consumers know what they eat.
source : fao org
