John & Pete’s ‘Eco Blog’making waves!

Like most species Mackerel stocker a are significantly lower than 20 years ago... Seafish.org offers a PDF guide to sourcing mackeral responsibly. Click the image to download it.

There is so much change happening in our “fish and chip” world and the bigger world outside. The only thing that seems certain is that the world will be a different place tomorrow than it will be today. Will all this change happening, so opportunities open up and depending on your frame of mind, that either be very daunting or very exciting. I am one of those annoying optimists that take the later point of view.

• Fact: there is less fish in the oceans of the world than there were when we were youngsters.
• Fact: there are more mouths to feed to in the world and those that can afford to eat seem to want to eat more than they ever have before

Fact: thankfully, people are beginning to think a lot more about the world that we live in and realise that if we don’t change many of our habits then our children and grand children will not have the same life choices that we have enjoyed.

With all this in mind, choosing fish to eat that have come from sustainable sources is definitely a good idea and in the public’s eye is very much ‘flavour of the month’. Greenpeace provide a very useful definition to help us: a particular seafood is sustainable if it comes from a fishery with practices that can be maintained indefinitely without reducing the target species’ ability to maintain its population and without adversely impacting on other species within the ecosystem.

What can we do?

- Improve your knowledge: Great sources of online information include:

• Seafish,   www.seafish.org/b2b
  Mr Bill Lart and his team have produced some excellent downloadable Responsible Sourcing Guides for individual species. He is very happy to take individual queries on 01472 252323
• MCS, Marine Conservation Society    www.mcsuk.org
• MSC, Marine Stewardship Council     www.msc.org
• Greenpeace       www.greenpeace.org.uk

The above agencies may have slightly differing opinions on the current and long term health of various fish stocks. It is up to you how deep your research goes and deciding whose advice to follow. My experience is our customers do appreciate being kept informed of our reasons for selling particular fish from particular fisheries.

- Ask questions of your fish suppliers. Richard Ord of Colmans, South Shields, a champion of ethical procurement practice insists that his fish suppliers give him written confirmation that all fish products supplied to Colmans are sourced from a sustainable stock. Great idea.

- Provide a better variety of fish to your customers. Four years ago, we started offering Pollock as an alternative to cod and haddock. Despite our best efforts to promote it, very few were willing to try it. Since then the media have really gone for it raising the topic of sustainable fish. Now line caught Cornish Pollock from St. Ives Bay is one of our best sellers, with very little promotion other than appearing on our specials board. How the world has changed!

What are the benefits of selling fish from sustainable sources?

There are fantastic PR opportunities. Letting the public know that you care and you want fish and chips to be available as the country’s No. 1 favourite take away food for the long term will do your business only big favours.

• Our experience is that the shops that are really moving on are combining top quality food with an environmental consciousness.
• Sleep better at night. Doing your bit for the environment and handing the marine world over to our children in no worse state than we took it on.

Final thought:

EEC politicians have got to sort out the issue of fish quotas, fish dumping at sea and the prosecution of those that land and sell “black” fish. Iceland, Norway & Russia must think we are totally mad, and rightly so. Please see the link on our website www.harbourlights.co.uk to view an example of ludicrous fish dumping. We have a local hero in Cornwall, Newlyn trawlerman Mick Mahon, who has made a stand and said enough is enough. He gives away non-quota fish he catches to the elderly and needy. Please consider raising this topic with your local MP and EEC MP.