A new study from Oceana has found widespread gaps in labelling and potential mislabelling of squid products sold in Brussels and Milan, with nearly half of all items analysed missing basic consumer information such as species name or catch location. DNA testing revealed that most of these poorly labelled products originated from distant waters linked to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and, in some cases, human rights abuses.
The analysis covered 198 squid products across supermarkets, fishmongers, restaurants, and even catering outlets in the European Parliament. Oceana says the findings highlight major weaknesses in existing EU seafood information rules and is urging Brussels to extend mandatory labelling requirements to all seafood products and all points of sale.
According to Oceana, more than 90% of squid items lacking consumer information came from the Pacific Ocean or Southwest Atlantic, where certain fleets have been associated with weak fisheries management, poor transparency, labour violations and documented illegal fishing practices.
The unlabelled products commonly included high-risk species such as jumbo flying squid, Indian squid and Argentine shortfin squid. These species are central to global markets but frequently tied to opaque supply chains, depending on the flag state and oversight of the fishing fleet involved.
Mislabelled origins across both cities
DNA analysis found that 71% of samples sold as coming from the Northeast Atlantic or Mediterranean were in fact Pacific or Southwest Atlantic species — indicating either incorrect information or deliberate misrepresentation.
EU law requires species name, catch area and fishing gear on fresh and frozen seafood but does not extend these rules to prepared or preserved products, nor to food sold in restaurants, canteens and catering services.
The study highlights that gap starkly: only 4% of restaurants serving squid in Brussels or Milan could identify the species even when asked directly.
City-by-City Results
Brussels
- Only 27% of fresh/frozen squid met EU labelling rules
- None of the fishmongers provided species information — a direct breach of EU requirements
- Only 35% of restaurants could provide catch location; none could identify species
Milan
- 50% of fresh/frozen squid products were compliant
- Close to 60% of processed squid products lacked species or catch location
- Only 28% of restaurants could provide either piece of information
Belgium imported most squid in 2024 from China and India, while Italy’s supply was dominated by Spain, with additional imports from Morocco, Thailand and Argentina. Spain itself imports heavily from the Falkland Islands, acting as the EU’s key hub for global squid.
Call for stronger EU rules
Oceana is urging EU institutions to amend the seafood market organisation regulation to require:
- Mandatory basic labelling — species, origin, fishing gear and production method — for all seafood products, including prepared and preserved items
- Labelling in foodservice, covering restaurants, hotels and mass catering
- Flag state disclosure on all wild-caught seafood, identifying the vessel’s country of registration
“Without clear seafood labelling, Europeans may unintentionally purchase products from fisheries with poor environmental or labour practices, while operators that comply with the rules face unfair competition,” said Marine Cusa, Policy Advisor at Oceana Europe.
Oceana argues that extending mandatory transparency across the entire supply chain would help close information gaps, improve traceability, and support responsible operators in increasingly complex global markets.
