Waitrose is the first major supermarket to take this sustainability stance
Supermarket giant Waitrose has removed a popular fish from all its UK stores starting Wednesday, amid concerns about the future of the fishing industry.
The supermarket will no longer stock mackerel and was set to clear the fish from its shelves from April 29, following worries about overfishing. The retailer says it’s become the first UK supermarket to suspend mackerel sales, which it sources from Scottish waters, with fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel discontinued by April 29 and tinned mackerel to follow once existing stock runs out.
The move comes after Governments failed to reduce mackerel catches to levels recommended by scientists to ensure sustainable fishing and prevent mackerel stocks from collapsing, reports the Express.
Conservationists have welcomed Waitrose’s decision to remove mackerel from its shelves, and called on other supermarkets to do the same. It follows the Marine Conservation Charity’s warning in April about cod levels, urging shoppers to stop purchasing cod due to concerns over the future of cod populations.
Overfishing has led to declining mackerel stocks in the North-east Atlantic, with ICES warning that the species, and the broader fishing industry, could face long-term threats unless countries adhere to recommended catch limits. Waitrose revealed that the decision taken in December by four coastal states to slash mackerel catches by 48% was a positive step, but still fell short of recommendations.
The supermarket announced that north-east Atlantic mackerel will no longer satisfy its responsible sourcing criteria, in accordance with the Sustainable Seafood Coalition codes of conduct.
Jake Pickering, head of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries at Waitrose, said: “By suspending sourcing of mackerel at Waitrose, we are reinforcing our ethical and sustainable business commitments, acting to tackle overfishing and protect the long-term health of our oceans and this crucial fish.
“Our customers trust us to source responsibly, and we are closely monitoring the fishery. We look forward to bringing mackerel back to our shelves once it meets our high sourcing standards.”
As substitutes, Waitrose is rolling out a new range of fish products, including hot smoked herring, hot smoked peppered herring and hot smoked sweetcure seabass, all of which carry Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
The retailer confirmed it would also introduce MSC-certified frozen sardines from May as an eco-friendly alternative to frozen mackerel, with plans to become the first retailer to sell 100 per cent MSC tinned sardines.
Waitrose said it would preserve its ties with its mackerel suppliers, with its new supply of herring, seabass, sardines and trout being sourced through existing supplier partnerships. However, there is currently no set timeframe for when Waitrose will resume sourcing mackerel.
Marija Rompani, director of ethics and sustainability at the John Lewis Partnership, which owns Waitrose, said: “We believe sustainable food production must balance climate action, nature protection and responsible fish sourcing is fundamental to protecting our oceans.
“We will continue to work closely with suppliers and industry partners to support the recovery and responsible management of fish stocks.”
Charles Clover, co-founder of conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, said mackerel – one of the largest remaining commercial fish stocks in the north-east Atlantic – had plummeted 75 per cent over the past decade because fishing nations including the UK had overfished it.
“They have put too little effort into the task of reaching agreement on a sharing arrangement – and some countries have been awarding themselves more quota than is justified by science,” he said.
“This crisis has been ignored for too long. We hope that this action by Waitrose sends it to the top of the political agenda. We call on other retailers to follow Waitrose’s example.”
