Oceana Canada has released a report on Canada’s seafood supply chain that shows the country is sorely in need of standardized food traceability.

The report indicates that close to $94-million in taxes are lost each year due to illicit trade in seafood products.

The federal government previously committed to developing a boat-to-plate traceability program but has yet to meet that commitment.

Seafood Fraud Campaigner with Oceana Canada, Sayara Thurston, indicates not only is food traceability important for seafood that is imported into Canada, but also for Canadian exports because it’s something that consumers are increasingly demanding.

The global trend is towards increased transparency and traceability and Canada runs the risk of falling behind global standards according to Thurston. She says seafood is one of the most highly traded food commodities in the world with “notoriously long and complex supply chains.”