Nearly half of fish could be mislabeled in Canada — here’s why that matters

When you buy fish, you probably expect the label to match what’s actually on your plate. But according to a national study by Oceana Canada, nearly HALF of seafood tested in Canada was mislabeled as a different species.

That means the fish being sold wasn’t always what customers thought they were buying — and in many cases, lower-cost fish were being swapped for more expensive premium species.

Why does this happen? Once fish are filleted, many species can look surprisingly similar. Sometimes mislabeling is accidental, but other times it happens somewhere along a long and complicated supply chain.

And the problem goes beyond simply paying too much.

Mislabeling can make it harder to know:

• where your fish actually came from
• how it was raised or harvested
• whether it was truly local, sustainable or wild-caught
• and what standards were followed along the way

It also hurts responsible fish farmers and harvesters who invest in better fish welfare, environmental stewardship and traceability.

At Springhills, that’s why we focus so heavily on being fully traceable ♻️

We track our fish from egg to harvest, with detailed records at every step of the process. Those records are verified through third-party audits and certifications to help ensure accuracy and accountability — no HAKE news around here. 🐟

Buying local seafood can also help reduce the risk of mislabeling. Fish that travels through fewer processors, distributors and middlemen has fewer opportunities for labels to get mixed up along the way.

Another great tip? Ask questions.

Responsible farmers, fishers, stores and restaurants usually LOVE talking about where their seafood comes from, how it was raised, and why they chose it. Transparency is a good sign.

You can also look for trusted third-party certifications such as:

• Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP)
• Ocean Wise
• Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

Studies have shown certified seafood has dramatically lower rates of mislabeling.

At the end of the day, knowing where your seafood comes from shouldn’t feel mysterious. And when you get a Springhills delivery, you should never be SHELL-shocked by what’s on your plate 🫧

(Study referenced: Oceana Canada, 2021)