Half of squid products analysed in Brussels and Milan lack basic consumer information, new Oceana study finds
Press Release Date: November 27, 2025
Location: Brussels
Contact:
Irene Campmany | email: icampmany@oceana.org | tel.: +34 682 622 245
DNA testing in Brussels and Milan reveals that most squid comes from distant waters, raising concerns over potential links to illegal fishing and human rights abuses
Oceana demands the strengthening of EU consumer information rules for all seafood products to protect citizens and the ocean
Oceana’s latest study reveals that nearly half of the analysed squid products for sale in Brussels and Milan completely lack essential information, such as species name or catch location. Through DNA analyses, Oceana found that these products lacking this consumer information were also at risk for illegal fishing or human rights abuses, as more than 90% were imported from the distant waters of the Indian, Pacific or Southwest Atlantic oceans. These products often included high-risk species such as jumbo flying squid, Indian squid, and Argentine shortfin squid, species linked to fleets operating under weak management, poor transparency, and documented cases of forced labor and illegal fishing depending on the country who caught the squid and controls the vessels.
The analysis, which covered 198 squid items from supermarkets, fishmongers, restaurants, and even canteens of the European Parliament and the European Commission, 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. 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.
In addition, DNA analysis revealed that about 71% of the samples for which the alleged geographical catch location was the Northeast Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea belonged instead to species originating from the Pacific Ocean or the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, indicating instances of erroneous or deliberate mislabelling.
“Our research shows that without clear seafood labelling, consumers 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”, said policy advisor at Oceana in Europe, Marine Cusa.
Country-Specific Findings
- 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, a blatant case of non-compliance with EU consumer information requirements.
- 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.
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.
Oceana’s Recommendations
The EU Regulation on the Common Market Organisation for seafood establishes the requirements for consumer information. 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 the country of registration of the fishing vessel.
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. Transparency should be a minimum requirement for all food products, including seafood, regardless of where they are sold.
Notes to editors:
- Methodology: Oceana collected 198 squid samples from canteens, supermarkets, fishmongers, and restaurants in Milan (Italy) and Brussels (Belgium), aiming for a balanced representation of fresh/frozen whole products, preserved/prepared items, and restaurant dishes. Labels and verbal information were assessed for compliance with EU consumer information rules, focusing on species identification and catch location. DNA analyses were conducted by the FishLab, Department of Veterinary Sciences of the University of Pisa. Additionally, trade patterns were examined using EUMOFA and ARTIS datasets to estimate species-level import volumes and origins.
- Why does the report focus on squid? Squid is key to marine ecosystems and global seafood trade, yet most fisheries lack regulation and stock assessments, making them vulnerable to overfishing and illegal fishing. Some squid vessels are also not sufficiently monitored and controlled and have been linked to human rights abuses. In 2022, the EU imported 79% of its squid. Data from the following year shows that Peru was the largest supplier to Europe, followed by the Falkland Islands, India, China, and Morocco. Spain is the top importer and catcher with its distant-water fleet, meaning most squid consumed in Europe comes from distant waters.
