Exploring seafood fraud, a comparative crime script analysis: case studies from the UK and US

Seafood supply chain networks are considered vulnerable to food fraud. High-value products with a diversity of species, production methods and fishery origins provide a business environment both conducive to criminality and financially lucrative. However, there is scant analysis on the empirical nature of seafood fraud, a challenge acknowledged for food fraud research in general. This study examines large-scale frauds in the UK and the US using crime script analysis to explore the actors, conditions, processes and resources required to commit each fraud and the opportunity structures that facilitated it. The crime scripts for each fraud were created using open-source intelligence (OSINT), including media sources, publicly available court filings and company records. We discuss initial findings, common themes and opportunities for intervention identified across the crime scripts. These include the use of existing resources, relationships and industry reputation to enable and conceal fraudulent practices, the availability and pricing of substitute products; lack of end-to-end traceability and the inability of consumers to detect fraud. Also notable was the extent of employee involvement and lack of reporting, so we reflect on impediments to external disclosure, particularly for migrant workers.