Fraud on Your Plate: Do You Really Know What You’re Eating?
- Israel Latin American Network
- Jun 2
- 3 min read
Seafood consumption in Mexico faces a serious problem of mislabeled products and overexploitation of protected species, threatening not only marine biodiversity but also the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and the health of consumers.
The Cod and Tilapia Deception: What They Don’t Tell You
Studies show that often the fish you buy isn’t what you think it is. A report by Oceana Mexico revealed that in Mexico City:
31.5% of "cod" sold in restaurants, supermarkets, and fish markets is actually another species like shark, tilapia, or manta ray.
In markets and fish shops, substitution rates reach up to 40%.
In the case of "cazón" (small shark), 90% of what is sold in Mexico is actually endangered shark species.
This means when you buy "cod" during the holiday season, you are likely eating silky shark or manta ray—species that not only have lower commercial value but are also at risk of overexploitation.
The problem extends beyond cod. It’s common in Mexico for restaurants or fish markets to sell tilapia instead of more expensive species like grouper or red snapper. This fraud occurs because tilapia is much cheaper and easier to farm, allowing sellers to increase profits by deceiving consumers.
Dorado: A Protected Species Still on Menus
The dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) is a species under seasonal fishing bans in Mexico due to overfishing. Yet, despite regulations, it often appears on the market, many times caught illegally.
According to the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission (CONAPESCA), fishing dorado in Mexico is restricted to licensed fishermen and commercial indiscriminate fishing is prohibited. However, lack of enforcement has allowed illegal sales to continue, jeopardizing its conservation.
Respecting Breeding Seasons is Key
One of the gravest mistakes in fishing is capturing species during their breeding season, drastically impacting populations and threatening the sustainability of the fishery.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that 90% of commercial fish stocks are overfished or at the limit due to indiscriminate fishing, often during breeding periods.
In Mexico, species like grouper, snapper, shrimp, and lobster have specific fishing bans because catching them during reproduction prevents population recovery.
A critical case is the Pacific bluefin tuna, whose population has dropped by 97% in the last 60 years due to intensive fishing during spawning seasons.
Fishing during breeding seasons reduces populations and threatens food security and the future of the fishing industry.
Fishermen: The Main Victims
Fishing is not only plagued by fraud and overexploitation but is also one of the world’s most dangerous professions. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO):
24,000 fishermen die each year due to extreme sea conditions.
Commercial fishing has a mortality rate 10 times higher than mining and construction.
In Mexico, thousands of families depend on fishing, but fraud and overfishing undermine their livelihoods, as high-quality fish prices drop due to the sale of cheaper species marketed as premium.
How to Protect Our Oceans and Fishermen
A key solution is implementing an Official Mexican Standard for Traceability of Fish and Seafood to ensure consumers know exactly what species they are buying and that fishing bans and breeding seasons are respected. However, this regulation is still pending.
Another essential aspect is supporting initiatives that promote sustainable fishing and transparent, ethical marketing. One example is SmartFish, an award-winning project recognized with the ILAN Innovation Prize 2024, which works with fishing communities to guarantee responsible and sustainable practices.
If you want to learn more about this issue and how to fight it, don’t miss the next episode of our podcast ¿QUÉ SIGUE?, where we talk with the director of SmartFish about the future of fishing in Mexico. Listen in and join the change.
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