Asda and Princes take action against unsustainable fishing
Princes seafood and Asda supermarkets are making waves by insisting that their fishermen use more sustainable measures. The two groups, which are major players in the seafood industry, have agreed not to purchase any fish caught using fish aggregating devices (FADs)
Commonly denounced by environmentalists as one of the main reasons for overfishing and the demise of certain species, FADs attract large numbers of fish to seine nets, indiscriminate of their size or species. Tuna, sharks and rays are just some who have recently become close to an endangered status due to the controversial fishing method.
Asda, owned by US retail giant Walmart; and Princes, owned by Japanese firm Mitsubishi, have agreed to continue using the seine nets but to reject any fish caught by FAD methods. David Ritter, head of Greenpeace, has welcomed the news, while pointing out that the traditional fishing rod method is still the most sustainable way of fishing.
In a separate move, Princes has also pleased Greenpeace by promising not to buy fish caught in the Pacific high seas area – pockets of which the environmental organisation wants to see get marine protected status . The area is notorious for over fishing with the demise of many species starting to occur.
Sari Tolvan, who campaigns for sustainable fishing practices for Greenpeace, said they will target Thai Union-owed John West next. She added that she is confident that other retailers will follow suit as nobody wants to be seen as complicit in the demise of the world’s oceans.
Walmart, Asda, Mitsubishi, Princes, Greenpeace, David Ritter, John West
Princes seafood and Asda supermarkets are making waves by insisting that their fishermen use more sustainable measures. The two groups, which are major players in the seafood industry, have agreed not to purchase any fish caught using fish aggregating devices (FADs)
Commonly denounced by environmentalists as one of the main reasons for overfishing and the demise of certain species, FADs attract large numbers of fish to seine nets, indiscriminate of their size or species. Tuna, sharks and rays are just some who have recently become close to an endangered status due to the controversial fishing method.
Asda, owned by US retail giant Walmart; and Princes, owned by Japanese firm Mitsubishi, have agreed to continue using the seine nets but to reject any fish caught by FAD methods. David Ritter, head of Greenpeace, has welcomed the news, while pointing out that the traditional fishing rod method is still the most sustainable way of fishing.
In a separate move, Princes has also pleased Greenpeace by promising not to buy fish caught in the Pacific high seas area – pockets of which the environmental organisation wants to see get marine protected status . The area is notorious for over fishing with the demise of many species starting to occur.
Sari Tolvan, who campaigns for sustainable fishing practices for Greenpeace, said they will target Thai Union-owed John West next. She added that she is confident that other retailers will follow suit as nobody wants to be seen as complicit in the demise of the world’s oceans.