Supermarkets

Introduction

Mackerel (R Harrington) As a result of changing consumer habits, many independent high street fishmongers have closed and been replaced by large supermarket chains which now account for between 80 and 90% of all retail sales of fresh fish and shellfish in the UK. This compares with just 10% in 1982.

85% by volume and 80% by value of chilled and frozen fish is sold through supermarkets.

The retail sector is increasingly recognizing its responsibility to stock fish from sustainable sources and inform customers of the origins and capture methods of the fish and shellfish in their stores. Several retailers and restaurants are actively seeking information about the most sustainable source of seafood, and have developed or are developing sustainable fish procurement policies. To assist them, MCS has provided advice to many of the leading supermarkets and individual restaurants and produced a Sustainable Fish Buying Policy guidance for retailers, chefs and fish suppliers.

MCS Supermarket League Table 2006

In 2005, MCS undertook a survey of the 10 leading supermarkets to review how sustainable their fish-buying policies were. Information was received from 9 of the 10 supermarket chains contacted. Supermarkets were ranked against a number of criteria including how many fish they sold from the MCS Fish to Eat or Fish to Avoid lists as well as how environmentally responsible their fish buying policies were and a league table was published in February 2006.

At the top of the MCS League Table in 2006 was Marks and Spencer. They only sold one fish (plaice from the North Sea) from the MCS Fish to Avoid list, sold 15 species from the MCS Fish to Eat List and have the most sustainable policies for both capture and farmed fish. Waitrose and Sainsburys, were second and third respectively, with Waitrose selling the greatest number of fish from the MCS Fish to Eat list (21) and Sainsburys the greatest number of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified products (16). Tesco (placed 4th) sold 14 species from the MCS Fish to Eat list and 80% of the CoOp’s (placed 5) tuna was pole and line-caught dolphin-friendly tuna (skipjack) from the Maldives - where all net fishing is banned and all marine mammals and turtles are protected. Morrisons (placed 6th) sold 15 species from the Fish to Eat List, Asda (placed 7th) 10 species, Somerfield (placed 8th) 7 species and Iceland (placed 9th) 1 species. Bottom of the League Table by default was Lidl from whom MCS had been unable to obtain any information at all.

MCS Supermarket League Table 2007

mackerel, red and grey mullet (P Richardson) At the top of the MCS League Table in 2007 is Waitrose and Marks and Spencer. Both companies are strongly committed to sustainability and have a reputation for only selling fish from responsibly managed fisheries. Tesco and Sainsbury’s are placed third and fourth respectively. Booths although invited to participate were unable to provide any information at all. Somerfield also decided not to respond this year. Lidl although contacted last year and from whom we received no response were not approached again this year.

Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and Morrisons all have the distinction of not selling any fish from the MCS List of Fish to Avoid. Waitrose sells the greatest number of fish from the MCS Fish to Eat List (26 species), followed by Morrisons (22 species) and Tesco (20 species).

Since last years survey (March 2006) a number of fish identified by MCS as from unsustainable sources have been delisted or removed from sale by the various supermarkets. For example ASDA has discontinued sale of North Sea cod, swordfish and European monkfish; Waitrose has delisted thornback ray; Iceland is reducing the number of beam trawled plaice products; Morrisons has delisted brill, ling, European hake, grey mullet, grouper, red fish, dog fish (huss), conger eel, and megrim; Tesco has delisted all skate and rays except starry, spotted and cuckoo ray, dogfish or huss, Atlantic halibut (wild) and monkfish from overfished stocks; CoOp delisted wild Atlantic halibut and is currently working on the replacement of wild warm water prawns with a farmed alternative. Marks and Spencer had removed vulnerable species from sale prior to March 2006.

Species of concern still on sale include marlin, Atlantic cod form overfished stocks such as the Eastern Baltic, plaice from the North Sea, warm-water prawns trawled in the wild and Dover sole from the Western Channel.

Download the latest MCS Press Release 21st March 2007

Download a copy of the MCS Responsible Supermarket League Table 2006 and MCS Responsible Supermarket League Table 2007

Download the detailed responses from each of the supermarkets surveyed in 2006 and 2007.

Guidelines for buying eco-friendly fish

.	Avoid buying threatened or vulnerable species i.e. species which are long-lived, have low-reproductive capacity and are slow to mature e.g. sharks, skates and deep-water species such as orange roughy. See www.fishonline.org for more information.
.	Avoid buying fish from depleted or over-fished stocks. See www.fishonline.org for information on fish from sustainably harvested stocks.
.	Where possible buy fish caught using the most selective method available e.g. line, diver, pot, or trap-caught or hand-gathered etc. Not only is the fish generally of better quality but unwanted marine species (by-catch) and damage to the seabed is avoided.
.	Avoid buying small, undersized fish that have not reproduced. See www.fishonline/BuyingandEating for information on age and size at maturity.
.	Where possible avoid buying fish during their breeding season (substitute frozen fish if necessary). In particular avoid 'berried' or egg-bearing lobster and crab. See www.fishonline/BuyingandEating for information on spawning times.
.	When buying farmed fish ask your supermarket if they have a policy in place to ensure the farmed fish they sell is farmed to high environmental standards.
.	Look out for organically farmed fish as these have been produced to high environmental and sustainability standards.
.	Look out for other labels (see below) on farmed fish. For more information see www.fishonline.org/buying_eating/labelling
.	Diversify your taste in fish. 10 species of fish account for 75% of all seafood sold in the UK. Most popular species is cod which accounts for around 22% of total GB consumption. The most popular species sold in UK supermarkets are Atlantic cod, haddock, tuna and warm and cold-water prawns. These species account for between 60 and 80% of sales.