Fake hake: species frauds deterred by sustainability standards, study finds

Less than 1% of products certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council were mislabelled

DNA barcoding of more than 1,400 seafood products certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) has revealed that less than 1% were mislabelled, compared with an average of 30% across the sector as a whole.

The MSC is the international NGO that sets the standard for sustainable fishing around the world and its blue label - on products in store, on fresh fish counters and on restaurant menus - indicates that seafood has been sustainably caught and traced back to its source. More than 300 fisheries in over 34 countries are certified to the MSC's standard and more than 35,000 seafood products worldwide carry the label.