Atlantic bluefin tuna. (Photo: Juan Murias/Copyright: FIS)

Bluefin tuna trade fraud warned

SPAIN
Thursday, November 27, 2014, 03:10 (GMT + 9)

Bluefin tuna is involved in the biggest fraud occurring in Spain concerning fisheries resources, since about 25 per cent sold actually corresponds to other cheaper tuna species such as skipjack and yellowfin.

This was stated by the director of Institute of Marine Research (IIM), Carmen Gonzalez Sotelo, who is also coordinator of Labelfish project, on the first day of a symposium on labelling fishery products organized by the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) in Vigo.

The researcher noted that Spain is in "mid-ground" as to the compliance with traceability and labelling standards, and said that out of the 1,000 samples analyzed during the initiative, a level of 3 per cent fraud was detected.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MAGRAMA) clarified that the fisheries sector is not where most fraud occurs when packing the product.

At the symposium, Cristina Clemente, deputy director general of MAGRAMA Food Control Laboratory clarified that each autonomous community is responsible for the investigations. She recalled that in 2013 a total of 15 companies received sanctions after 140 inspections were made and 270 samples were analyzed, the newspaper Faro de Vigo informed.

"The European traceability system -- which extends from the fisherman to the consumer -- is one of the best in the world," ensured Clemente.

Referring to the new EU labelling rule that will take effect on 13 December, the deputy director general of Fisheries Economics of MAGRAMA, Aurora de Blas, clarified that the exclusion of canned products from this legislation because they are "included in the 11-69 regulation with the rest of processed products".

"They have to meet the same requirements, differentiation is made with fresh products or with those with a simpler processing" she explained.

Labelfish project is coordinated from Vigo through the group of Food Biochemistry of Institute of Marine Research under the CSIC.

The final results of this initiative, which has a budget of EUR 1.9 million, will be released in April next year, the newspaper La Voz de Galicia informed.

Related article:

- Andalusia supports increased quota for bluefin tuna

By Analia Murias
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

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