Supermarket Brings Its Sustainable Fish Policy Into Line With Wal-Mart
Press release issued by ASDA
ASDA announced today it was dramatically changing the way it sources fish, bringing its sustainable fish policy into line with its parent company Wal-Mart.
Within the next three to five years, ASDA will only stock wild-caught fresh and frozen fish from fisheries that meet the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) independent environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries.
The decision means dozens of products bearing the MSC’s blue ecolabel will start appearing on the supermarket's shelves.
As part of its new sustainable fish policy, ASDA plans to stop selling swordfish within the next four months, having already removed shark, skate wings, ling, huss (dog fish) and Dover sole from sale.
ASDA will also suspend the sale of North Sea cod while it works closely with EU Fisheries (DG Fish) and the North Sea Regional Advisory Committee to establish a stock recovery plan for the species.
The supermarket is calling for the North Sea to be declared a marine conservation zone to preserve fish stocks for local fishing communities. It believes commercial fishing of the North Sea should be limited to local fishermen who depend on it for their sole income and who use recognised sustainable fishing practices.
What ASDA says
Andy Bond, chief executive at ASDA said: "Our move proves that low prices don't have to come at any cost. We've set ourselves an ambitious target, but we're determined to meet it.
"Our customers tell us they want to buy their fish with peace of mind. We believe the MSC mark on our products, together with clear, country of origin labelling will give our customers the reassurance they're seeking."
What the MSC says
Rupert Howes, chief executive of the MSC, welcomed the retailer’s announcement: "This is a bold move by ASDA and reflects a growing trend among major retailers around the world to develop and implement sustainable seafood sourcing policies.
"We very much welcome this development and are looking forward to working with ASDA and the company’s suppliers over the coming years to encourage new fisheries into the MSC assessment process."
ASDA will also work closely with its suppliers to help make improvements in less well managed fisheries, including strengthening management practices, rebuilding stocks, reducing environmental impacts, and encouraging support for broader marine ecosystem management and protection efforts. As those fisheries improve, ASDA will encourage them to participate in the MSC certification program.
ASDA is also in the process of agreeing new standards of traceability which will be reflected in more open and transparent labelling. At present it labels all its fish with the fisheries zone it was caught in e.g. North East Atlantic. By September this year it will label all its fish with the exact nation of capture e.g. Norway.
ASDA fish procurement
ASDA has developed sourcing policies and activities that are UK industry leading. However it will continue to evolve its position (the activity plan is below).
ASDA Fish Sourcing Policy
The methods and techniques used in the production of ASDA products are rightly examined from a variety of standpoints. The issues associated with the use of natural resources and the impact on the environment of harvesting raw materials have a direct and indirect impact on the ultimate consumer. ASDA's commitment is to offer a wide variety of sustainable seafood products to the public and to provide clear and accurate information in order to allow the customer to make informed purchasing decisions.
ASDA Fisheries Principles
Legal - Fish will only be sourced from suppliers who are able to demonstrate full compliance with national and international fisheries legislation and have systems which afford traceability of catches or harvests.
Sustainable - Sustainability is to be an assessed criterion in buying decisions based against a formal ASDA fishery rating protocol. ASDA will prioritise the use of wild caught fish species derived from certified sustainable fisheries.
Responsible - ASDA will work only with suppliers who are able to demonstrate best practice for fisheries or fish farms, and have a regard for the environmental impact of their operations.
Visible – ASDA will actively engage with all interested stakeholders in the development of clear objectives for the support and development of best practice within the fish catching and farming sectors. It will provide clear and detailed labelling information regarding the origin of fish so that the consumer can make informed purchasing decisions.
Actions
ASDA will:
Establish a working group of suppliers to develop and progress ASDA's Fisheries Principles. At present ASDA labels fish with FAO fisheries zone e.g. North East Atlantic. It will move to labelling with nation of capture. This will be implemented by September 2006.
Agree fishery rating protocol. Review current species stocked against sustainability measures – compare MSC rating with proposed ASDA protocol for all products/categories.
Assess current and planned fish range, completed end March 06.
Agree policy on seasonality and species substitution - introduce Fish of the Month programme - launch June 06.
Delist swordfish, over risk to the fish stock, within the next 4 months.
Delist North Sea cod, over the risk to the fish stock, within the next 4 months.
Continue to sell marlin in order to support current suppliers and helping them to work towards getting their fisheries MSC approved.
Understand the ‘sector specific’ nature of the ASDA seafood range and identify the core issues and objectives within each area. Review use of Best Practice for fisheries and potential for catching sector involvement.
Assess current and planned fish range by Sept 06.
Condemn and prohibit the sourcing of fish from fisheries employing deep sea drift netting including large scale gill netting, shark fining, poison/dynamite fishing, paired trawling for sea bass.
Require the use of bird scarers on long line vessels to be implemented by June 2007.
Assess current range for potential MSC logo usage where not currently used - Ongoing; new products identified for autumn launch.
Establish NPD process to challenge fish species/origin to ensure best use of MSC materials - Ongoing; new products identified for Autumn 06.
Ensure director level endorsement of responsible procurement policy to positively engage purchasing team and shape commercial behaviour - Agreed by end March 06.
Communicate and publicise director endorsed policy decision to colleagues, advocacy groups, suppliers, trade and media - Agreed; policy and principles in public domain.
Further information
Dominic Burch, 0113 241 7829
Out of hours, 0113 243 5435
For any media inquiries please contact [email protected].