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) 3 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 g industry to used by the fishin t they can be tha 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 – – ed 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. 5

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 10

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. 12

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 13

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] 16