Article - There's Something 'Fishy' Going On

The consumption of seafood is on the rise.  After years of informing consumers of the health benefits of including fish in their weekly diets, many are opting for these healthier' menu items - but at what cost?

Several recent studies, including that of 2 New York high school students, found that there is widespread mislabelling of fish in restaurants, fish retailers, sushi joints and the like.  The effects are widespread and damaging.

Mislabelling Fish Costs YOU Money

In the majority of cases that were tested, fish was advertised as higher priced species, which means that consumers are charged more for a lower priced product.  For example, in some sushi restaurants, Tilapia was sold as 'Red Snapper' - Tilapia is 5 times cheaper than Red Snapper.  In another test, fish labelled 'White (Albacore) Tuna' was really the cheaper Mozambique Tilapia. 

Consumers have every right to expect to be getting exactly what they are paying for.  The more consumers that are aware of the mislabelling of fish, the more seafood processors, retailers and restaurateurs will be forced to take notice and start ensuring that this practice is stopped.  


Mislabelling Fish Damages Fish Stocks

In one study, 7/9 of the 'Red Snapper' samples were not, in fact, Red Snapper.  In 2/9 cases, an endangered fish - the Acadian Redfish - was labelled 'red snapper.'  Endangered fish should not be consumed at any price, as their numbers have dwindled so much that they could soon become extinct, but to sell them as a more common fish is mind-boggling.

Today, 73% of Tilapia consumed today is farmed, so stocks are plentiful; however, so, too, were the stocks of the Atlantic Cod until recently.  The Atlantic Cod was the most popular fish in the world at one time, but over-fishing led to its stocks collapsing under the strain.  Today, Red Snappers' numbers are also on the decline, but if consumers are constantly seeing 'Red Snapper' being offered on menus, they will not realise the actual state of the species' health and will keep ordering it.  Unless consumers are actually aware of the real cost of each species of fish (obviously, fish with lower stocks will be priced higher etc.) they will be unable to make informed decisions about their choices.  Will we be the last generation to enjoy Red Snapper?

What Can We Do?

The Netherlands have implemented the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which will ensure that all wild-caught fish at retail chains across the country come from sustainable fisheries by 2011.  The MSC will track fish from 'the boats to the table' ensuring correct labelling and also allowing consumers to make informed choices about the fish they eat. 

Consumers around the world can also fight for such standards to be implemented, and to stop the 'fishy' practice of mislabelling from continuing.  Contact your local politicians, media nd fish suppliers; ask questions about the sources of the fish when you dine out, and opt for sustainable choices.

Fish to Avoid and Enjoy

To assist you with making informed choices which will help the health of our marine life for generations to come, we have compiled a list to fish to avoid and those to enjoy.