As rising tariffs and escalating trade tensions with the US drive more Canadians to seek local products, SeaChoice is sounding the alarm over misleading seafood labels that could leave consumers in the dark.
According to the advocacy group, the lack of clear and accurate labelling means Canadian seafood producers may be missing out on crucial local support.
“Right now, people are making conscious choices to buy Canadian,” says Christina Callegari, Senior Coordinator, Marine Programs with the Ecology Action Centre (a founding member of SeaChoice). “But when it comes to seafood, the information needed to make an informed decision often isn’t there.”
Under current Canadian regulations, imported seafood must be labelled according to where it was processed – not where it was caught or farmed. Meanwhile, products caught or processed within Canada are not required to be labelled as ‘Canadian’ at all.
“For example, fish caught in Canada, processed in China and shipped back to Canada will appear on the shelf with a ‘Product of China’ label,” said Callegari.
“Or, there could be several types of white fish or tuna at your local fresh counter, but there’s no required label to show which are caught by Canadian fishers, which are caught overseas or even what species they are.
“This makes it difficult for consumers to ensure they’re buying Canadian seafood in their grocery stores.”
SeaChoice is urging a reform in labelling practices, calling for mandatory disclosure of where seafood is both caught or farmed, as well as its species. The group also advocates for transparency on the fishing or farming methods used.
