On Wednesday, Maryland Del. Eric Luedtke (D-14) introduced the “Maryland Seafood Authenticity and Enforcement Act,” which would provide Maryland residents with more information about the seafood they purchase.
In addition to requiring that seafood is properly identified at the point of sale — on the label, sign or menu — the bill would also prohibit a seller from knowingly mislabeling a species. If passed, there would also be stronger regulations for the labeling of Maryland’s blue crab, including identifying its origin and limiting sales of a product labeled “blue crab” to the actual species Callinectes sapidus.
“To protect the public health, to protect the consumer, and to protect our watermen from unfair competition, Marylanders deserve to know that they are being served the seafood they ordered. And when I order a Maryland-style crab cake, I want to know whether it is actually being made with crab flown halfway around the world,” Luedtke said. “This legislation will give Marylanders the information they deserve about the seafood they’re eating, and I hope my colleagues will agree.”
Oceana has welcomed the legislation and applauds Maryland policymakers for helping to stop a seafood bait and switch in their state. Last year, a report released by Oceana found one-third of seafood tested around the country to be mislabeled according to the Food and Drug Administration’s guidelines, including 26 percent of the seafood tested in the Washington, DC and Maryland area.
“This bill is an important step towards ensuring that the seafood sold in Maryland is accurately labeled. Providing consumers with more information about the seafood they purchase helps to protect our health, wallets and oceans. Consumers have a right to know more about their seafood, including what type of fish they are buying and serving to their families,” said Beth Lowell, Oceana campaign director.
“While Oceana works to get comprehensive traceability requirements for all seafood sold in the United States, where information follows the seafood through the supply chain from bait to plate, states like Maryland are tackling the issue head-on to protect consumers and prevent regional fishermen from being undermined by mislabeled seafood in the marketplace.”
