An American seafood importer based in Miami, Fla., U.S., has to pay more than USD 1 million (EUR 749,436) in fines and penalties after a federal court found the company guilty of seafood fraud.
The company, True Nature Seafood, pleaded guilty to importing 11,192 pounds of processed steelhead trout from Chile in August of 2010, then using a subsidiary to re-label it and sell it to customers in North America as salmon, making approximately 77,536 (EUR 58,108) in gross sales.
Wifredo Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Tracy Dunn, special agent in charge of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said in a joint statement that a federal judge sentenced True Nature to pay a fine of USD 500,000 (EUR 374,718), plus another USD 500,000 in community service payments. In addition, the company is on probation for five years, ordered to implement an environmental compliance plan, and must turn over proceeds from the sale of approximately 43,150 pounds of toothfish valued at USD 400,862 (EUR 300,412). The statement said the toothfish was previous seized by NOAA in a related case.
“Combating seafood fraud is a high priority for NOAA Fisheries,” said Eileen Sobeck, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “This fraudulent activity had a direct financial impact on honest fishermen. Our agents and officers will continue to ensure that legitimately harvested and marketed seafood is not undercut by fraudulent products thus protecting fish stocks, the honest fisherman, and consumers.”
