Episode Details

What if the fish on your plate isn't the fish you think it is?

Scientists around the world have been testing seafood from grocery stores, markets, and restaurants using DNA. The results are often surprising. Studies have found that anywhere from 10 percent to more than 30 percent of seafood products are mislabeled. In some cases, cheaper fish are sold as expensive species. In other cases, endangered fish or illegally caught seafood can enter the market under completely different names.

Seafood mislabeling is not just a consumer problem. It can hide illegal fishing, undermine sustainable fisheries, and make it harder for regulators to protect ocean ecosystems. In this episode, we break down how common seafood fraud really is and why it matters for the future of ocean conservation.

Follow How to Protect the Ocean for weekday ocean science updates.