Shoppers buying salmon this week are being urged to check labels carefully, as products sold as "rock salmon" are not salmon at all but small shark species, according to seafood experts.
The commercial name can appear on fish packaging, counter labels and fish-and-chip shop menus, potentially misleading customers into thinking they are buying something similar to ordinary salmon. Experts from Maine Lobster Now say rock salmon is a designation traditionally used for the meat of small sharks.
What is rock salmon?
Julian Klenda, seafood expert at Maine Lobster Now, said: "Rock salmon is not salmon from rocky waters, nor is it a cheaper variety of salmon."
"It is a name traditionally used for the meat of small sharks. That distinction matters because shark has separate NHS consumption advice, particularly for pregnant women, people trying to conceive and children."
Rock salmon is not the only name shoppers should watch for. Defra's official list of UK commercial fish designations allows relevant species to be sold as dogfish, flake, huss, rigg, rock eel or rock salmon. These are legitimate commercial descriptions, so their use does not necessarily indicate a retailer has acted incorrectly.
Health guidance for shark
According to the NHS, shark — which contains high levels of mercury — should be avoided by those who are pregnant or attempting to conceive, as well as children and teenagers aged 16 or under. The guidance states that mercury concentrations found in shark can impact a child's nervous system and harm the developing nervous system of an unborn baby. For everyone else, it is advised to consume no more than one portion of shark per week.
Julian added: "This is not about being frightened of every fish dinner. It is about knowing what has actually been purchased and following the appropriate guidance for that species."
Regular salmon is not included in the NHS guidance to steer clear of shark. Shoppers should therefore not depend only on the term "salmon" when choosing a product. They should read the full product description and check for any reference to dogfish, flake, huss, rigg or rock eel.
