A study from the San Francisco de Quito University reveals that consumers in the Sierra region of Ecuador are often sold shark instead of the corvina fish they pay for, with some areas having a substitution rate as high as 78%.
A recent study conducted by researchers from the San Francisco de Quito University has unveiled a troubling case of food fraud in the Sierra region of Ecuador. According to genetic analysis, nearly half of the fish sold labeled as corvina is actually shark meat, often from endangered species. The study highlights alarming substitution rates, with cities like Ambato reporting that up to 78% of the fish sold as corvina is misleadingly replaced with shark, compromising both consumer trust and conservation efforts.
The research, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, involved extensive sampling in various cities including Quito, Ambato, Cuenca, and Ibarra. Notably, other coastal cities like Manta and Guayaquil did not exhibit similar fraud, indicating that the issue may be more localized. The researchers identified three major issues impacting the fish markets: widespread consumer deception from mislabeling, price distortion, and the illicit sale of endangered species, which raises ethical and ecological concerns.
The implications of these findings are significant for public health, consumer rights, and biodiversity conservation. Consumers in the Sierra region are being misled about the products they purchase, raising questions about the integrity of local food systems. As illegal and unsustainable fishing practices threaten marine biodiversity, this study calls for greater transparency, stricter regulations, and enforcement to protect both consumers and the environment in Ecuador's fish markets.
