Bill Banning Inaccurate Labeling For Seafood Advances In Assembly

Legislation that targets the mislabeling of seafood by restaurants, wholesalers and grocery stores is moving forward in California.

An Assembly committee unanimously approved the measure that would make it illegal to knowingly sell fish or shellfish without identifying the species by its common name, whether it was wild caught or farmed, and the country of origin.

Restaurants would be required to provide similar information to diners.  Violators would face fines of one thousand dollars and up to a year in jail.

A study by Oceana -- an Ocean Conservation advocacy group -- found that 58 percent of restaurants visited in Northern California sold mislabeled fish.