Three out of every 10 fish sold in restaurants, markets, and other establishments in Quintana Roo are not the correct species; they are being substituted with a cheaper alternative, revealed the Oceana study, “Cat for Hare.”
Esteban García-Peña, the organization’s research and public policy coordinator, indicated that in addition to deceiving consumers, this practice is harming endangered or protected species.
“There are quite a few species that are being substituted, but let’s talk about the champions of disguise… To begin with, there’s the sailfish, the one you see in some restaurants, almost 100% of it is substituted; they never offer you sailfish. Marlin is a species that is substituted 90% of the time; bass 88%, almost 90%; Spanish mackerel 81%; and grouper 72%. These are just a few examples. In the case of red snapper, it’s substituted more than 55% of the time,” he said.
The interviewee indicated that this type of practice was confirmed through genetic studies conducted on products collected from various locations, such as restaurants, markets, and fishmongers.
According to the latest report, the state with the highest rate of species substitution is Jalisco at 48%, followed by Baja California (46%), Baja California Sur (41%), Sinaloa (38%), Mexico City (38%), Sonora (36%), Yucatán (35%), and Quintana Roo (30%).
García-Peña pointed out that in addition to illegal fishing, much of this product also comes from aquaculture farms in eastern China or Vietnam, allowing it to be offered at a much lower price, which also affects regulated fishermen.
“A few months ago, we needed to travel to Cozumel, and a restaurant offered us grouper. When the product arrived, it was clearly not grouper. I told the captain, and he said, ‘Oh, you noticed.’ Of course I noticed. You’re substituting a product. And do you know what he said? ‘Oh, it’s because everyone does it here,’” he said.
Source: quintanaroo.heraldodemexico
