Ambrose Faculty Study Exposes Seafood Mislabeling in Calgary

Dr. Matthew Morris, Associate Professor of Biology, has recently published research in the journal PeerJ Life and Environment addressing the issue of seafood mislabeling in Calgary, Alberta. As the lead author, Dr. Morris collaborated with Ambrose University alumna Morgan Kwan and researchers from the University of Calgary and Mount Royal University. The study, conducted between 2014 and 2020, analyzed 109 invertebrate and 347 finfish products, revealing that approximately one in five seafood items is mislabeled, with mislabeling rates of 20.2% for invertebrates and 21.3% for finfish.

"This work reflects five years of data collected by second-year biology students, along with a significant dataset from our co-author, Morgan Kwan," Dr. Morris states. "We connect students in the lab to a real-world problem that no one else has addressed. Genetics transforms from an abstract microscopic concept into something with real significance for the flourishing of humans and fishes alike."

The research marks the first Canadian study to investigate both invertebrate and finfish mislabeling, revealing that product substitutions can sometimes involve endangered species. Dr. Morris emphasizes, "We would never buy something called a mammal sandwich or a bird salad, yet we seem content to buy products with the ambiguous names of rockfish, tuna, or cod. Our work shows that such ambiguity does not prevent mislabeling—and, even worse, it hides species of conservation concern. When we buy seafood that isn’t clearly labeled, we risk consuming creatures we should be protecting."

While preventing mislabeling is crucial, the authors argue that eliminating ambiguous market names is even more urgent for the protection of endangered and vulnerable species. As conservation efforts gain momentum, this research advocates for regulatory changes and urges Canadian consumers to be vigilant about the seafood products they purchase, pushing for transparency in labeling.

"The main takeaway of this research is clear: to best protect fish, consumers should vote with their wallets," Dr. Morris adds. "Purchase whole fish that are certified as sustainably harvested and labeled with precise names that indicate the exact species. By doing so, you greatly reduce the likelihood of consuming a species that desperately needs our protection."

Congratulations to Dr. Morris and Ambrose alumna Morgan Kwan on this important contribution to marine conservation!

You can read more about this finding in the following places:

PeerJ Life and Environment journal (available here)

The Conversation online publication (available here)