Green seafood

A UK retail perspective

Mike MitchellTechnical & CSR DirectorYoung’s Seafood Limited

We believe the scientists (part 1)

*Address to the Inaugural Fisheries Exhibition

“I believe, then, that the cod fishery, the herring fishery, the pilchard fishery, the mackerel fishery, and probably all the great sea fisheries, are inexhaustible; that is to say, that nothing we do seriously affects the number of the fish. And any attempt to regulate these fisheries seems consequently, from the nature of the case, to be useless.”

Sir Thomas Huxley (1883)*

In a 100 years we have moved from sail to steam to modern diesel powered super trawlers

Late 19th century, sailing ketches, fishing with baited longlines

Early 20th century, steam powered trawlers prevailed

We have constantly increased our capability and capacity to catch fish

- The seas have never been more vulnerable -

A Brief History Of Commercial Fishing

*’Impacts of Biodiversity Loss on Ocean Ecosystem Services’ Worm et al 2006

Mid 2000’s, some scientists & eNGO’s predict the commercial extinction of fish stocks

We believe the scientists (part 2)

BY 2050 GLOBAL FISH STOCKS EXTINCT

"Biodiversity is a finite resource, and we are going to end up with nothing left ...if nothing changes,"

Boris Worm (2006)*

Seafood is under the sustainabilitymicroscope

Seafood is at the Forefront of Sustainability

• Overfishing

• Impacts Of Fishing

• Fish Farming

In 2005 eNGO’sStarted Campaigns

If your business depends on natural resources, sustainability is brought into sharp focus!

Greenpeace – giving the industry a poke with a sharp stick

Seafood sustainability has become a celebrity issue

Media appetite for sensational headlines

and with the support of our partners we have helped to create a pro-active industry

agenda which continues to this day

Launched in 2006

Ten Principles forResponsible Fish Procurement

We have strived to lead by example

Our approach to the green marine agenda

UK retailers have outsourced marine policy advice

• RAG rating• Buying metrics

• RAG rating

• RAG rating

A new UK retailer and brand policy alliance

• Labelling Code• Sourcing Code

SSC Sourcing Code

“Develop an engagement plan based on the risk assessment. This may be a collaborative plan with other members / stakeholders.”

“Develop an engagement plan based on the risk assessment. This may be a collaborative plan with other members / stakeholders.”

• Recent publicity over trafficked and bonded labour in the seafood sector has given focus to this as a worldwide issue

• ‘At sea’ operations are perceived to be amongst the highest global risk for Modern Day Slavery

• The absence of credible third party certification of labour standards at sea adds to the perceived risk

• The Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS) seeks to address this in UK fisheries and beyond

• ISO17065 compliant and incorporating the labour standard requirements of ILO 188

Ethical sourcing

Summary - responsible seafood sourcing in the UK

• A highly engaged and highly influential eNGO sector• Over a decade of policy development driving a pro-active

green marine agenda amongst the major retailers and seafood brands

• Broad alliance on seafood sourcing policies and self-declared environmental claims (Sustainable Seafood Coalition)

• Certified sustainability (e.g. MSC/ASC) underpinned by increasingly collaborative FIPs (e.g. North Sea cod)

• Post horsegate focus on product integrity• A developing emphasis on ethical sourcing (social justice

issues)

We believe the scientists (part 3)

“Apocalyptic assertions that fisheries management is failing are counter-productive — not only because these assertions are untrue, but because they fail to recognize the long, hard work of fishery managers, scientists and stakeholders in the many places where management is working.

While the gloom-and-doom advocates have been attracting public attention and press coverage, thousands of people … have worked through years of meetings and painful catch and effort reductions to lower fishing pressure and successfully rebuild fisheries.”

Ray Hilborn (2010)*

*’Apocalypse Forestalled: Why All the World’s Fisheries Aren’t Collapsing’ Ray Hilborn 2010

Working together works!

Mike MitchellMike Mitchell

Technical & CSR DirectorTechnical & CSR Director

Young’s Seafood Ltd.Young’s Seafood Ltd.

mike.mitchell@youngsseafood.co.uk

Thank you for listening