State Cracks Down on Illegal Fish Products; Undercover Agents Checking Seafood
Source: Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon, Fla.
Mar. 28–The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it’s stepping up efforts to keep the Sunshine State’s seafood markets safe and fair.
As part of Operation No More Back Door, the agency has partnered with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to target people and businesses illegally buying, selling, packaging or mislabeling seafood.
“For years, FWC officers have worked on the illegal back-door sales of regulated fish to ensure only licensed fishermen are selling products,” said Lt. Col. Don Holway, deputy director of law enforcement. “Partnering with other agencies responsible for regulating the wholesomeness and integrity of seafood products makes sense for businesses and consumers.”
Snagging fishermen or dealers illegally selling or buying their catch often requires covert operations involving long hours and additional manpower. In fact, several years ago, the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office performed such covert operations on several Middle Keys businesses, trying to sell illegal lobster from coolers. No arrests were made.
FWC investigators may pose as recreational fishermen and attempt to make a back-door sale or purchase and perform DNA testing on fishery products suspected to be mislabeled. During these covert investigations, officers can uncover violations that are outside the agency’s purview, so they will pass that information on to Consumer Services or Business Regulation for action.
Consumer Services is sending food safety inspectors to supermarkets, fish stores and other establishments that sell fish on the retail level to check delivery boxes for accurate labeling of fish species, according to Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. Samples can be tested for species identification at the department’s food lab or at FWC’s facility.
At the same time, Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, which inspects commercial vehicles entering or leaving Florida, has scanned documents involving more than 500 shipments of seafood transported through interdiction stations at interstates 10, 75 and 95. The documents are accessible to the FWC and provide a snapshot of the seafood entering and leaving Florida.
Seafood products must be commercially and legally caught or harvested, and purchased only from licensed commercial fishermen or certified aquaculturists. Recreationally caught or harvested shellfish may not be received for sale or service by food service establishments.
State Cracks Down on Illegal Fish Products; Undercover Agents Checking Seafood
Source: Florida Keys Keynoter, Marathon, Fla.
Mar. 28–The state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says it’s stepping up efforts to keep the Sunshine State’s seafood markets safe and fair.
As part of Operation No More Back Door, the agency has partnered with the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to target people and businesses illegally buying, selling, packaging or mislabeling seafood.
“For years, FWC officers have worked on the illegal back-door sales of regulated fish to ensure only licensed fishermen are selling products,” said Lt. Col. Don Holway, deputy director of law enforcement. “Partnering with other agencies responsible for regulating the wholesomeness and integrity of seafood products makes sense for businesses and consumers.”
Snagging fishermen or dealers illegally selling or buying their catch often requires covert operations involving long hours and additional manpower. In fact, several years ago, the Monroe County State Attorney’s Office performed such covert operations on several Middle Keys businesses, trying to sell illegal lobster from coolers. No arrests were made.
FWC investigators may pose as recreational fishermen and attempt to make a back-door sale or purchase and perform DNA testing on fishery products suspected to be mislabeled. During these covert investigations, officers can uncover violations that are outside the agency’s purview, so they will pass that information on to Consumer Services or Business Regulation for action.
Consumer Services is sending food safety inspectors to supermarkets, fish stores and other establishments that sell fish on the retail level to check delivery boxes for accurate labeling of fish species, according to Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. Samples can be tested for species identification at the department’s food lab or at FWC’s facility.
At the same time, Bronson’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement, which inspects commercial vehicles entering or leaving Florida, has scanned documents involving more than 500 shipments of seafood transported through interdiction stations at interstates 10, 75 and 95. The documents are accessible to the FWC and provide a snapshot of the seafood entering and leaving Florida.
Seafood products must be commercially and legally caught or harvested, and purchased only from licensed commercial fishermen or certified aquaculturists. Recreationally caught or harvested shellfish may not be received for sale or service by food service establishments.