When it comes to squid, are you dining in the dark?

Close up of multiple red and white squid. — *Image Credit: © OCEANA Marta Carreras*

With labels lacking and limited, plus restaurants unable or unwilling to help, research into the provenance of squid products shines a light on conscious consumers in Europe all-too-often left dining in the dark.

The latest study from advocacy organisation Oceana reveals that nearly half of all analysed squid products for sale in Brussels and Milan completely lack essential information, such as species name or catch location.

DNA testing found that products missing this consumer information were also at risk of links to illegal fishing or human rights abuses, with more than 90% imported from the Pacific or Southwest Atlantic. These often include high-risk species such as jumbo flying squid, Indian squid, and Argentine shortfin squid.

Such species are linked to fleets operating under weak management, poor transparency, and documented cases of forced labor and illegal fishing, depending on the country catching squid and controlling vessels.

Labels found lacking and limited

The analysis, which covered 198 squid items from supermarkets, fishmongers, restaurants, and even canteens of the European Parliament, shows the urgent need for changes in seafood labelling rules.

For example, only 4% of restaurants serving squid provided information on the species, even when staff were asked directly — which leaves conscious consumers at the other 96% effectively dining in the dark

While EU legislation currently mandates basic labelling for fresh and frozen seafood, including species, catch area, and fishing gear, these rules do not apply to preserved and prepared products, such as canned tuna or fish sticks, or to food served in restaurants and mass catering

DNA maps geographic misinformation

In addition, DNA analysis revealed some 71% of samples for which the geographical catch location was allegedly the Northeast Atlantic Ocean or Mediterranean Sea belonged instead to species originating from the Pacific Ocean or the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, indicating erroneous or deliberate mislabelling.

The current system is flawed and failing all parties, says policy advisor at Oceana in Europe, Marine Cusa:

“Without clear seafood labelling, Europeans may unintentionally purchase products from fisheries with poor environmental or labour practices, while operators that comply with the rules face unfair competition.

“We urge the EU Commission to make basic information compulsory for all seafood, including products that are often consumed breaded or in restaurants such as squid, a group of species that are particularly vulnerable to opaque supply chains and links with illegal and unregulated fishing.”

Country stats tell a sorry tale

The country-specific findings tell the tale, with statistics for Belgium alarmingly low:

Brussels, Belgium: Just 27% of fresh and frozen squid products fully complied with EU labelling laws;
Only 35% of restaurants could indicate catch location, and none could identify the species;
None of the fishmongers in Brussels provided information on the species for fresh and frozen squid, which is a blatant case of non-compliance with EU consumer information requirements.

In 2024, Belgium’s squid imports were dominated by products coming from China and India, while Italy’s market was supplied mainly by Spain, with additional imports from Morocco, Thailand, Argentina, and others. Spain, acting as the EU’s gateway for squid, imported heavily from the Falkland Islands.

In certain respects, the research results from Italy proved even worse:

Milan, Italy: Only half of the fresh and frozen products fully complied with EU labelling laws;
Nearly 60% of prepared and preserved squid products lacked species or catch location information;
Only 28% of restaurants could provide either detail.

The problems are plain to see. As for the solutions, what can Europe do at the level of policy and legislation to safeguard the interests of conservation, consumers and commercial parties alike?

Call for changes in regulation

In terms of baseline legislation, the EU Regulation on the Common Market Organisation for seafood establishes the requirements for consumer information. Therefore, to close the transparency gap and protect consumers and ethical producers, Oceana calls for the Regulation to be amended to ensure:

Mandatory basic information (species, origin, fishing gear, production method) for all seafood products, including prepared and preserved items;
Labelling requirements for the food service sector, including restaurants, hotels, and mass caterers;
Flag State disclosure for wild-caught seafood, identifying country of registration of the fishing vessel.

Information is power — and food labels empower consumers to make informed choices and allow authorities, researchers, NGOs, and journalists to verify product origins and practices. Without mandatory labelling, traceability breaks down, and accountability is lost. Therefore, transparency should be a minimum requirement for all food products, including seafood, regardless of where they are sold.

Feeding one billion forever

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organisation dedicated solely to ocean conservation.

The organisation works to rebuild abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch.

With more than 325 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results.

A restored ocean means that one billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever.

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