Dallas, Texas, U.S.A.-based seafood wholesaler Seafood Supply Company was ordered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) on 17 July to pay a USD 250,000 (EUR 218,995) fine, undergo a three-year probation period, and implement an environmental compliance plan for two violations of the Lacey Act.
The Lacey Act is a U.S. wildlife protection law that bans the trafficking of illegally harvested, processed, or transported fish, wildlife, and plants.
Seafood Supply Company was found guilty for falsifying the country of origin of salmon sold from January 2020 to February 2022, designating less expensive Chilean salmon as more expensive Scottish and E.U.-based salmon, according to a release by the DOJ.
DOJ confirmed that Seafood Supply pled guilty to the violations on 4 March.
According to 4 March documents, "a conservate estimate of the illegal gains generated from this fraudulent 'country of origin' labeling scheme is approximately USD 200,000 [EUR 175,224]."
New leadership has been implemented at Seafood Supply since March, with Lesia Hensley serving as the firm's current president.
NOAA was involved in the investigation as part of its federal enforcement initiative called "Operation Upstream Diligence," which targets seafood fraud and illegal trade.
DOJ Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan R. Raybould, and NOAA Office of Law Enforcement Southeast Division Assistant Director Paige Casey announced the sentence. ENRD Environmental Crimes Section trial attorney Christopher Hale prosecuted the case, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.
