Food News

Researchers from the University of British Columbia (Canada), the University of Western Australia (Australia) and the GEOMAR Center in Kiel (Germany) presented the results of an alarming study.

The first global study on long-term trends in the population biomass of fished marine organisms shows a significant decline over the past 60 years, with the result that some species can no longer be fished sustainably and economically today. In other words, global fishing fleets must use increasingly aggressive fishing methods to meet the demand for fish and marine life from the oceans. The balance between the extraction and re-growth of populations is upset. Only through common and bindingly agreed international fishing quotas could this trend be slowed down, but national egoisms unfortunately stand in the way of reason.

If these results are considered further, it must be assumed that the issue of food fraud in the area of fishery products continues to represent an acute and increasing danger. Declaration fraud, unacceptable weight increase through water inclusion and the use of fattening aids and antibiotics in aquaculture are the possible consequences. As quotations on the fish market rise, criminal manipulation becomes more likely and more lucrative.

With modern analytical methods, it is now possible to reliably identify fish species, to detect declaration fraud and also manipulation of raw materials and processed products in many cases.

The laboratories of the AGROLAB have the expertise and methods to detect fraudulent activities and determine the quality of fishery products. 

Author: Dr. Frank Mörsberger