About 84 percent of all seafood consumed in the United States is imported from other countries. With about 1,700 fish and shellfish species available in the nation's marketplace, there are a lot of choices for consumers. But, unfortunately, there is a lot of fraud as well. Some studies indicate that fish is often mislabeled, disguising species that are less desirable, cheaper, illegally caught or contaminated. To help fight against this consumer fraud, the Washington State Legislature in 2013 adopted a new law that provides a higher standard for seafood labeling and stiffer penalties for those found guilty of mislabeling their product.
