The seafood supply chain from a fraudulent perspective

Abstract

Food fraud is an intentional act for economic gain. It poses a risk to food integrity, the economy, public health and consumers' ethics. Seafood is one commodity which has endured extensive fraudulent activity owing to its increasing consumer demand, resource limitations, high value and complex supply chains. It is essential that these fraudulent opportunities are revealed, the risk is evaluated and countermeasures for mitigation are assigned. This can be achieved through mapping of the seafood supply chains and identifying the vulnerability analysis critical control points (VACCP), which can be exposed, infiltrated and exploited for fraudulent activity. This research systematically maps the seafood supply chain for three key commodities: finfish, shellfish and crustaceans in the United Kingdom. Each chain is comprised of multiple stakeholders across numerous countries producing a diverse range of products distributed globally. For each supply chain the prospect of fraud, with reference to species substitution, fishery substitution, illegal, unreported and unregulated substitution, species adulteration, chain of custody abuse, catch method fraud, undeclared product extension, modern day slavery and animal welfare, has been identified and evaluated. This mapping of the fraudulent opportunities within the supply chains provides a foundation to rank known and emerging risks and to develop a proactive mitigation plan which assigns control measures and responsibility where vulnerabilities exist. Further intelligence gathering and management of VACCPs of the seafood supply chains may deter currently unknown or unexposed fraudulent opportunities.

Barriers and facilitators to shellfish cultivation

“…The consumer views ‘wild’ species as a superior standard than farmed species, and thus, this fraud allows greater financial return particularly outside of their wild season and when in lower supply (Jacquet & Pauly ; Fox et al . ). Food fraud has vexed the food industry globally and throughout history.…”

“…Fox et al . () outlines the production methods and supply chain structure in the UK, predominately involving on‐bottom mussel culture and trestle oyster culture. All these decisions can facilitate or act as a barrier to production as they affect: the robustness, quality and safety of the bivalve mollusc; productivity and economic viability of the harvesting site; and the ability to meet regulatory requirements (Oidtmann et al .…”

“…Catch method fraud involves the mislabelling or advertising of the type of production or harvesting method to increase financial return. The consumer views 'wild' species as a superior standard than farmed species, and thus, this fraud allows greater financial return particularly outside of their wild season and when in lower supply (Jacquet & Pauly 2008;Fox et al 2018). Food fraud has vexed the food industry globally and throughout history.…”

“…In order to tackle food fraud, the opportunities must be reduced through vulnerability analysis critical control point (VACCP) principles. This will make fraudulent commodities much harder to market and reduce the incentive (Heylar et al 2014;Fox et al 2018).…”

“…These management practices are the decisions the APB makes with regard to the species, cultivation method, growing conditions, time of production, harvesting method, handling practices, and surveillance and mitigation measures implemented (Seafish, 1997;Callaway et al 2012;Jennings et al 2016). Fox et al (2018) outlines the production methods and supply chain structure in the UK, predominately involving on-bottom mussel culture and trestle oyster culture. All these decisions can facilitate or act as a barrier to production as they affect: the robustness, quality and safety of the bivalve mollusc; productivity and economic viability of the harvesting site; and the ability to meet regulatory requirements (Oidtmann et al 2011).…”