**Aquatic Food Fraud Webinar Held Amid Growing Concerns of Theft in US Fisheries**

A recent webinar series on aquatic food fraud, hosted by the FAO GLOBEFISH, highlighted the growing issue of theft and property incidents in US fisheries. The online session brought together experts from various fields to discuss the impacts of fraud affecting fisheries and aquaculture products.

According to the FAO GLOBEFISH, a recent survey found that aquatic food fraud is a significant concern globally, with 198 participants joining from 59 countries for the webinar on June 18th. The main forms of aquatic food fraud discussed included mislabelling, species substitution, misbranding, adulteration, counterfeiting, and other types of fraud.

In related news, there have been reports of theft in US fisheries over the past few days. According to local authorities, several incidents of stolen fishing gear and equipment were reported on June 30th. The exact locations and details of these incidents are still unclear.

The FAO GLOBEFISH webinar emphasized the importance of transparency, traceability, and consumer trust in international fisheries and aquaculture markets. Experts discussed tools available to strengthen product authenticity across value chains, including stronger traceability systems, analytical testing, risk-based controls, clearer labelling, consumer awareness, data collection, international cooperation, and capacity development.

The webinar series aims to provide a space for technical exchange and dialogue on key issues affecting international fisheries and aquaculture trade and markets. The link to the webinar recording is available online.

**Background**

Aquatic food fraud has been identified as a significant concern globally, with experts warning that it can undermine consumer confidence, distort markets, create unfair competition for legitimate operators, pose food safety risks, and weaken sustainability efforts. The FAO GLOBEFISH aims to provide a platform for dialogue on emerging trade and market issues through its webinar series.

**Sources**

  • FAO GLOBEFISH: Aquatic Food Fraud Webinar (June 18th)
  • Local authorities reports of theft in US fisheries (June 30th)