Marine Conservation Society: Co-op leads MCS Sustainable Seafood Supermarket Survey

Nov 25, 2009 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) --
MASPY | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) today releases the results of its Sustainable Seafood Supermarket Survey (available at www.mcuk.org, scoring eight major supermarkets for their performance in selling sustainably sourced seafood. The co-operative leads the way, eliminating all fish from MCS' list of Fish to Avoid from its own-brand products, and having the largest percentage of sales from the Fish To Eat list in MCS' Good Fish Guide. Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose also performed strongly. MCS sees these positive changes as a triumph for its long running Sustainable Seafood campaign.

We are however disappointed that seven out of fifteen major supermarkets did not respond; namely Aldi, Booths, Budgens, Farmfoods, Lidl, Netto and Spar.

Sam Wilding, MCS Fisheries Officer, said: "In European waters, nearly nine tenths of fish stocks are overfished. Supermarkets supply 80% of the seafood sold in the UK. Both consumers and retailers can help stop the over-fishing crisis if supermarkets supply their customers with sustainably sourced seafood. MCS wants all Britain's major supermarkets to use a sustainable seafood sourcing policy and provide their customers with good information on sustainable seafood choices."

Over the last two years, the eight supermarkets that responded to MCS' survey have all improved their seafood sourcing policies, recognising the importance of sustainable and responsible sourcing to both the environment and their business. MCS has worked closely with retailers on sustainable seafood solutions but believes that further improvements could be made by selling more seafood from the MCS Fish to Eat list, eliminating all seafood from the MCS Fish to Avoid list and by improving seafood labelling.

Sam Wilding continued: "The supermarkets included in this survey are trying harder than ever before to put sustainability at the heart of their sourcing. Morrisons, for example, now offers the greatest variety of fish from our Fish To Eat list, Sainsbury's has the best farmed seafood policy, Tesco's seafood labelling gives the best information for ethical consumers and Marks & Spencer leads the way with fisheries improvement projects. Asda and Iceland have also developed strong sourcing policies.

"MCS was very disappointed that seven retailers did not respond and finds their reluctance to take part difficult to understand given that the survey celebrates the progress made by supermarkets in supplying sustainable seafood. MCS believes all supermarkets have a key role to play in ending unsustainable fishing and MCS looks forward to working with those retailers who ignored our survey on this occasion."

Appendix:

From the results MCS has identified where supermarkets have performed strongly and where there is room for improvement. These are summarised below and will appear on the MCS website.

Asda:

+ Improved sourcing policy in recent years.

- Needs to improve staff training on sustainability issues.

- Needs to improve labelling of seafood products.

Co-op:

+ No Fish to Avoid sold.

+ Highest percentage of Fish to Eat sold.

- Needs to improve on farmed seafood sourcing.

Iceland:

+ Improved sourcing policy in recent years.

- Needs to improve the labelling of seafood products.

- Needs to improve investment into fisheries and aquaculture.

Marks & Spencer:

+ Strong seafood sourcing policy.

+ Leading in fisheries and aquaculture improvements.

- Needs to improve labelling of seafood products.

Morrisons:

+ Strong seafood sourcing policy.

+ Largest choice of sustainable seafood.

- Needs to improve on investing in fisheries and aquaculture improvements.

Sainsburys:

+ Strong farmed seafood sourcing policy.

+ Leading in fisheries and aquaculture improvements

- Needs to improve labelling of seafood products.

Tesco:

+ Strong seafood sourcing policy.

+ Good labelling of seafood products.

- Needs to increase the use of recognised sustainable products.

Waitrose:

+ Strong seafood sourcing policy.

+ Good choice of sustainable seafood.

- Needs to improve training of staff on sustainable seafood issues.

Notes for Editors:

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK Charity dedicated to the protection of our seas, shores and wildlife. Since its formation in 1983, MCS has become a recognised authority on marine and coastal conservation and is regularly consulted by Government for its views on a range of marine issues. MCS provides information and guidance on many aspects of marine conservation and produces the annual Good Beach Guide, as well as promoting public participation in volunteer projects and surveys such as Adopt-a-Beach, Seasearch and Basking Shark Watch. See www.mcsuk.org for more information.

MCS Sustainable Seafood Supermarket Survey asked questions of each retailer's seafood sourcing policy; how the seafood on sale compared with the MCS Fish to Eat/Avoid lists; how this seafood is labelled; whether the staff are trained in sustainability issues; and how the retailer is helping to improve the environmental sustainability of the seafood industry both at home and abroad.

Seafood labelling in particular remains inadequate. MCS' Good Fish Guide and the supporting website, www.fishonline.org both part of our consumer awareness programme, educate consumers about sustainably sourced seafood. Current labelling in supermarkets prevents the consumer from using this knowledge. MCS commends recent labelling improvements but retailers need to provide better information about the methods used to capture the fish they sell and where these fish are caught.

MCS Fish to Eat and Fish to Avoid lists are generated by assessing the relative health of each fish stock, and the sustainability of the various fishing methods used. MCS has given over 150 fish a rating from 1 to 5 that allows the user to identify the status and sustainability of each fish at a glance. A rating of 5 (Fish to Avoid) is given to those fish that MCS recommends be avoided because they are overfished; vulnerable to exploitation; poorly managed; and whose method of harvesting causes bycatch (capture of dolphins, sharks, seabirds and non-target fish) and/or damage to the seabed. A rating of 1 and 2 (Fish to Eat) is awarded to the most sustainably harvested seafood including fish from certified fisheries. Ratings 3 and 4 indicate increasing levels of concern regarding the status of the fish stock, or the environmental impact of the fishing method used to catch them. A Pocket Good Fish Guide featuring a summary of the Fish to Eat and Fish to Avoid lists is available from MCS at 01989 566017 / info@mcsuk.org on receipt of a SAE.

www.fishonline.org is the comprehensive and highly acclaimed MCS website on sustainable seafood. The website has a Simple and an Advanced search function, depending on the detail of information required by the consumer about each fish. As well as entries for over 150 different species and stocks, the site includes information on status of fish stocks, impacts of fishing and labelling schemes. There is also a glossary with definitions for terminology that users may not be familiar with and a guide to the different fishing methods used and their impacts. Maps of the world's fishing areas are also included. New features added in 2006 include a guide to when fish breed; a comparison of the effects of different fishing gears; a guide to where to buy fish from the Fish to Eat list; and additional information on farmed fish and other species. A new addition to the website this year is the opportunity for consumers to provide feedback on the labelling of seafood. By providing this information consumers will be entered into a free prize draw. The Fishonline website was originally designed by Juniperblue, with the financial support of Marks & Spencers plc, and first launched in August 2004.

CONTACT: Sam Wilding, Fisheries Officer, Marine Conservation Society
Tel: +44 (0)1989 561 584
e-mail: sam.wilding@mcsuk.org
Dawn Purchase, Aquaculture Officer, Marine Conservation Society
Tel: +44 (0)131 226 3113
e-mail: dawn.purchase@mcsuk.org
Simon Brockington, Head of Conservation, Marine Conservation Society
Tel: +44 (0)7748 132 445
e-mail: simon.brockington@mcsuk.org
Richard Harrington, Communications Manager, Marine Conservation Society
Tel: +44 (0)1989 561 585
e-mail: Richard@mcsuk.org
Marine Conservation Society
Tel: +44 (0)1989 566 017
Fax: +44 (0)1989 567 815
e-mail: info@mcsuk.org
WWW: http://www.mcsuk.org

((M2 Communications disclaims all liability for information provided within M2 PressWIRE. Data supplied by named party/parties. Further information on M2 PressWIRE can be obtained at http://www.presswire.net on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.com.

For full details on (MASPY) MASPY. (MASPY) has Short Term PowerRatings at TradingMarkets. Details on (MASPY) Short Term PowerRatings is available at This Link.