Environmental Watchdogs Raise Concerns Over The Blue Formula’s Fish Supplement
Mexico City—The Blue Formula, a Mexico-based startup, is facing accusations from environmental watchdogs of violating international trade law. The company has allegedly been selling a health supplement made from endangered totoaba fish to several countries, including the United States and China. Advocates also have concerns that the fish used in the product may be illegally caught in the wild.
Violation of International Trade Law
Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), it is illegal to export totoaba fish for sale unless it is bred in captivity with a specific permit. Both Mexico and the United States are signatories to this convention. Additionally, commercial import of this protected species is illegal under U.S. trade law.
Written Complaint Filed
Cetacean Action Treasury, an environmental watchdog group, first brought attention to The Blue Formula’s practices in November. Now, a coalition of environmental charities, including The Center for Biological Diversity, National Resources Defense Council, and Animal Welfare Institute, have filed a written complaint to CITES.
Claims of Sustainability
The Blue Formula claims on its website to operate “100%” sustainably by sourcing fish from Cygnus Ocean, a farm with a permit to breed totoaba. The company also says it uses a portion of its profits to release some farmed fish back into the wild. However, environmental groups argue that Cygnus Ocean does not have a permit for the commercial export of their farmed fish.
Fear of Wildlife Laundering
Advocates, including Alejandro Olivera, the Center for Biological Diversity’s Mexico representative, express concerns that The Blue Formula and Cygnus Ocean could be used as a front for illegal activities. Olivera emphasizes the lack of traceability and enforcement for totoaba in Mexico, making it easy to launder wild totoaba. Gillnet fishing for wild totoaba is not only illegal but also a threat to the critically endangered vaquita porpoise, of which less than a dozen are believed to exist in the wild.
Seizures and Ecological Impact
In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over $1 million worth of totoaba bladders hidden in a shipment of frozen fish in Arizona. Around the same time, another seizure occurred in Hong Kong. These incidents highlight the illegal trade of totoaba bladders, which are highly valued in China as a delicacy. The Blue Formula’s fish supplement, priced at just under $100 for 200 grams, adds to the demand.
As the accusations against The Blue Formula unfold, environmental advocates are pushing for stricter enforcement to protect endangered species and combat illegal wildlife trade.