How Nuclear Technology is Helping to Fight Seafood Fraud
13 August 2025 | Peace and Security
Seafood fraud is an increasingly pressing issue affecting consumers and small-scale fishers worldwide. From mislabeled fish species to the use of unauthorized additives, deceptive practices in the seafood industry pose serious threats to livelihoods, food safety, and consumer trust. In response, an innovative international initiative leveraging nuclear technology is now being deployed to ensure the authenticity, safety, and traceability of seafood on plates around the globe.
The Growing Challenge of Seafood Fraud
Seafood consumption has surged dramatically, with per capita intake having doubled since the 1960s and projections indicating it will double again by 2050. This growing demand has unfortunately been accompanied by a rise in seafood fraud, which includes substituting expensive fish with cheaper alternatives or concealing unauthorized additives. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that 62 million people are employed in primary fish production, while approximately 600 million livelihoods depend on fisheries and aquaculture.
As seafood supply chains become more complex and elongated, monitoring and traceability challenges increase, making it easier for fraudulent activities to occur at any stage along the chain—from catch to consumer. To effectively combat this, national and international food control systems require advanced, reliable analytical methods.
Nuclear Technology Steps In
A collaborative project between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is harnessing nuclear science to tackle seafood fraud head-on. Through the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, the IAEA has launched a five-year coordinated research project. This initiative aims to assist countries in strengthening their food control systems by incorporating nuclear technology-based analytical techniques to detect and prevent fraudulent practices within seafood supply chains.
Debashish Mazumder of the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, a key partner in the project, emphasized: “This IAEA project provides Member States with a valuable opportunity to collaborate in combating fraud and de-risking the seafood supply chain using robust nuclear science-based tools.”
How Nuclear Science Ensures Seafood Authenticity
The IAEA’s Food Safety and Control Laboratory plays a vital role in this initiative by supporting countries to apply nuclear and related analytical techniques. Among the most effective tools is stable isotope ratio analysis, which examines light elements such as oxygen in seafood tissues. This method enables scientists to determine the geographical origin of the fish and verify if it was wild-caught. The isotope signatures reflect the fish’s surrounding environmental and ecological conditions, thereby providing a scientific basis for authentication.
Utilizing these nuclear techniques enhances transparency throughout the seafood supply chain, promoting consumer protection, building trust in food control systems, and empowering fishing communities to commit to sustainable aquatic resource management.
Looking Ahead
As seafood fraud continues to threaten the integrity of global fish markets, the application of advanced nuclear technology offers a promising defense. This scientific approach not only safeguards consumers but also supports sustainability within fisheries—ensuring that the seafood reaching tables worldwide is both safe and genuine.
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Photo credit: Unsplash/Nicola Welner
Seafood displayed at a market in Italy.
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