Oceana says that seafood fraud is rife among Danish fishmongers after its recent study revealed that 18% of cod sold is not actually cod but actually haddock or saithe.
The marine conservation organisation pointed out that there are gaps in the traceability system and chain of custody in Denmark.
“Seafood fraud is an extensive practice throughout Europe due to weaknesses in the current traceability systems for fish and low levels of control checks from authorities responsible for the appropriate labelling of seafood,” said Maria Jose Cornax, fisheries campaigns manager, Oceana Europe.
She also pointed out that this not only represents a “mockery” to customers but it also undermines worldwide conservation efforts by creating a black hole in the market where illegal catches are sold.
Although haddock and saithe are closely related to cod, it is fraudulent to pass these species off as cod to consumers. They are both cheaper than cod resulting in monetary loss for the customer.
Oceana said that not only should the consumer know what fish they are buying but they should be able to make informed decisions about where fish is being caught in order to make eco-friendly choices.
The study conducted in conjunction with the Danish newspaper, Søndagsavisen, and the TV programme Go’Aften Denmark, collected 120 samples from fishmongers, supermarkets and restaurants, in order to undergo DNA analysis.
