FISH MAYTOUTMEARKSE
HELPING
THE BETTER CHOICE
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ABOUT THIS GUIDE
It is now a well known fact that fishing has left
stocks of popular fish like cod and tuna in serious
decline. To help ocean life recover, we need to
know more about the fish we choose to eat and
try less popular species. But knowing which fish
to choose at the supermarket or in a restaurant
can be a challenge.
Greenpeace has produced this guide to help you
make informed decisions so you can continue
eating fish more responsibly.
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©Hofford/Greenpeace
MILLION
EVERY YEAR OVER SEVEN CREATURES
A
TONNES OF FISH AND SE BACK INTO
ING
ARE THROWN DEAD OR DY E NOT WHAT
AR
THE SEA BECAUSE THEY LOOKING FOR.
FISHING FLEETS WERE
FIND OUT:
WHERE’S BEST TO BUY FISH (p10)
WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK (p11)
WHICH FISH TO CHOOSE (p12)
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Cover:©Visser/Greenpeace
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?
WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
OVERFISHING is destroying the world’s oceans and the
CHANGE FISHING PRACTICES Governments and companies
livelihoods that depend on them. Our appetite for fish is
exceeding the oceans’ limits and, worldwide, populations
of large predatory fish such as tuna, swordfish, cod and
halibut are down by around 90% since the 1950s.
like supermarkets need to act more responsibly and change
their policies to protect oceans. This will force the fishing
industry to change to fishing methods that minimise bycatch
and don’t damage sea beds, and to only fish from stocks that
are under less pressure.
DESTRUCTIVE FISHING is also damaging our oceans. Many
current fishing practices devastate sea beds while others
kill large numbers of seabirds, turtles, sharks, dolphins and
other marine life as bycatch along with their target fish.
Catching young fish before they have a chance to reproduce
is also commonplace.
ESTABLISH MARINE RESERVES
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©Ocampo/Greenpeace
©Ocampo/Greenpeace
floating ob
devices (FADs) are
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used by the fishin
t they can be
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attract tuna so
nets called purse
ge
hu
in
scooped up
magnet for many
seines. FADs are a
sharks and rays,
other fish including
d are particularly
an
s,
as well as tur tle
ile tuna which
attractive to juven
aining tuna
are critical to maint
wanted bycatch
un
populations. Any
dead or dying –
–
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is usually dump
n.
back into the ocea
©Hilton/Greenpeace
aggregating
BAD PRACTICE: Fish
jects
Scientific evidence shows
that large networks of marine
reserves – off limits to fishing –
are needed to protect all ocean
life. Companies must put pressure
on governments to create these
national parks at sea. Marine
reserves allow fish stocks
to recover as individuals
can live longer, grow larger
and reproduce. They can
also protect vulnerable
migratory species such as
sharks, tuna and swordfish
and give all marine life
more chance of surviving
changes to the ocean
from climate change.
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enables us to expose destructive fishing practices around
the world and identify solutions.
THE SOLUTIONS EXIST,
BUT WE MUST ACT
LOBBYING Holding governments, retailers and the fishing
NOW
industry to account ensures that solutions get put into practice.
TAKING ACTION Nonviolent direct action stops destructive
fishing at its source when people in positions of power fail
to act.
TIME IS RUNNING OUT
NOVEMBER 2010, GHANA
GREENPEACE INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS
FROM LOCAL WORKERS OF SHARKS,
TURTLES AND DOLPHINS BEING CAUGHT
BY TUNA FISHING VESSELS.
npeace
©Hilton/Gree
JUNE 2010, MEDITERRANEAN
GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ATTEMPT TO FREE
ENDANGERED BLUEFIN TUNA FROM CAGES.
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©Hilton/Greenpeace
INVESTIGATING Carrying out research and investigations
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©Greenpeace
We all have a part to play in protecting the world’s oceans.
Here is some of the work Greenpeace is doing to make
sure this happens:
©Hilton/Greenpeace
WHAT GREENPEACE IS DOING
©Hilton/Greenpeace
FISHING METHODS
MORE SUSTAINABLE N REPLACE THE
CA
LIKE POLE AND LINE
METHODS THAT
NG
DESTRUCTIVE FISHI
E WORLD’S OCEANS
ARE DESTROYING TH
WHERE TO BUY?
WHAT TO ASK?
Making the best environmental choice when buying fish and
seafood can be difficult. But when it comes to supermarkets,
the choice is clear… Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose
and the Co-operative are leading the market with the most
progressive sourcing policies. As supermarkets sell 90% of
all fish sold in the UK, by changing their policies they can
completely transform the fishing industry.
Asking questions of your local fishmonger, supermarket or
restaurant not only makes sure you know what you are eating,
but also challenges them to know what they are stocking.
Next time you want to buy fish, think about what fish you
are buying and where and how it was caught. Try asking the
following questions:
1. WHERE DID THIS FISH COME FROM?
Are the populations in decline?
How was it caught?*
Why is that sustainable?
‘The scale of moving all of our tinned tuna
to 100% pole and line caught was a
massive investment, but we were convinced
it was the most sustainable alternative.
We did not pass the cost of doing this
on to our customers as they expect us
to do the right thing.’
– ALLY DINGWALL, SAINSBURY’S
‘M&S supports the establishment of large scale
no-take marine reserves and believes that
the retail sector has a crucial role to
play in supporting this initiative.’
– RICHARD LUNEY, M&S
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2. CAN YOU RECOMMEND THE MOST SUSTAINABLE
FISH OPTION FOR ME?
If your supplier doesn’t know where the
fish comes from – or can’t answer your
questions, the chances are that it doesn’t
come from a sustainable source.
* Bottom and beam trawling catch huge amounts of
unwanted fish. As a general rule, and as a first step,
choose line caught fish wherever possible.
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WHAT TO CHOOSE?
TINNED TUNA LEAGUE TABLE
People who eat fish can make a difference by avoiding fish
caught using the most destructive fishing methods or
from overfished stocks. They can also get involved directly
in supporting Greenpeace’s work.
Over the last decade,
Greenpeace’s work has been
critical in achieving change
among UK retailers. Most
recently, Greenpeace’s tuna
league table demonstrates that
supermarkets can change for
the better.
Greenpeace’s red list of fish to avoid highlights species that
have a very high risk of coming from unsustainable sources.
The full list can be found at www.greenpeace.org.uk/redlist
3 TIPS WHEN CHOOSING FISH
1. TRY LOCAL FISH Often it will be handline caught which is one
of the most sustainable choices. Some of Britain’s fishermen –
like the hand liners off the Cornish coast – are among the most
sustainable in Europe.
2.GO SMALL Depending on how it is caught, smaller can be
better. Small local fisheries can be among the most sustainable,
especially where they use handlines or selective nets that are
not dragged over the seabed. Stocks of some of the smaller
species like mackerel and sardines are in much better shape.
Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer,
and Waitrose all now only use
pole and line caught tuna for
their own brand tinned labels.
We now need to see other
supermarkets following suit and
all supermarkets making similar
moves with other fish species.
as something for a special occasion will
change the way you think about fish.
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eenpeace
©Hilton/Gr
3.CELEBRATE SEAFOOD Thinking of seafood
JOINT BEST
SAINSBURY’S AND
MARKS & SPENCER
2ND
WAITROSE
3RD
THE CO-OPERATIVE
4TH
TESCO
5TH
ASDA
6TH
MORRISONS
7TH
JOHN WEST
WORST
PRINCES
SUSTAINABILITY IS NOT JUST
ABOUT FRESH FISH.
IF YOU’RE BUYING TINNED TUNA, GHT.
CAU
MAKE SURE IT’S POLE AND LINE
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ABOUT THE FISH YOU BUY
ABOUT GREENPEACE
There are lots of other organisations that can help you find
out more about how you can eat fish more responsibly:
Protecting the world’s
oceans is just one area of
Greenpeace’s work. If you’d like to find out more
or get more involved, we would love to hear from you.
Go to www.greenpeace.org.uk/redlist for a list of
fish commonly sold in supermarkets around the world
that have a very high risk of being sourced from
unsustainable fisheries.
©Parsons/Greenp
eace
FIND OUT MORE...
Campaign with us online – www.greenpeace.org.uk/oceans
Donate – www.greenpeace.org.uk/donate
Visit www.fishfight.net for information on chef
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaign and
TV series demanding a change in fishing policies.
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©Marple/Greenpeace
www.fish2fork.com is the world’s first website
to review restaurants according to whether their
seafood is sustainable.
Fundraise – www.greenpeace.org.uk/fundraise
Get our e-bulletin – www.greenpeace.org.uk/e-bulletin
Campaign in your area – www.greenpeace.org.uk/active
If you’d prefer to speak to someone about these ways to
help Greenpeace then call our Supporter Services team
on 0800 269 065 (Monday–Friday 9am to 5.30pm).
©Newman/Greenpeace
You can view the Marine Conservation Society’s
sustainable seafood guide at www.mcsuk.org
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©Floirendo/Greenpeace
Greenpeace works to expose global environmental problems
and to achieve solutions for a green and peaceful future.
Our vision of a better future is only as strong as the people
who support us. We rely totally on donations from individuals.
That way no government or company can compromise our work.
To make a donation today please call 0800 269 065
or visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/donate
January 2011
Canonbury Villas
London N1 2PN
www.greenpeace.org.uk
[email protected]
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