This technical report from the FAO (free to download) provides a detailed overview of food fraud in the aquatic sector, outlining its types, causes and impacts. It demonstrates that species substitution and mislabelling are the most common forms of fraud, with studies indicating that up to 20 percent of fishery and aquaculture products globally are mislabelled. Fraud is especially prevalent in restaurants and catering services, where visual identification is challenging, and in processed products, where the species identity can be masked.
A series of international case studies illustrates the extent and consequences of food fraud in the aquatic sector and provides an overview of the most common cases and the available tools to fight food fraud in the sector.
The report reviews international regulatory frameworks and standards designed to mitigate fraud risk, including Codex Alimentarius, FAO guidelines, and GFSI‑benchmarked schemes (such as BRCGS, FSSC 22000, International Featured Standards, and Safe Quality Food), as well as national laws in Australia, Canada, the United States of America and the European Union.
It advocates for harmonized labelling requirements, the mandatory inclusion of scientific names, and better traceability systems. Raising consumer awareness and
increasing industry transparency are also highlighted as critical steps to reduce fraud and support sustainable practices in the aquatic sector.
The report also includes summaries of the most common testing methods used to identify different types of fraud.
