Substitution of valuable fishery species with those of lower value is common practice because it is easy and offers immediate financial rewards. Generally, the species used in substitutions have lower values than those declared on the label,as shown in this study. In particular, the study showed widespread use of species of lower commercial value and from highly polluted waters in African countries and on the Mekong river in Asia, i.e. L.niloticus and P. hypophthalmus, respectively