Seafood labelling boost

One code is designed to give consumers certainty about what environmental claims on seafood mean, while the second aims to ensure coalition members source their fish and seafood products responsibly.   

By signing the labelling code, businesses commit to all voluntary environmental claims like ‘sustainably sourced’ and ‘responsibly sourced’ made on their own-brand seafood being consistent, clear and accurate.

By agreeing to the sourcing code, members commit to having good traceability, being transparent about their sourcing policies, and carrying out annual risk assessments on fisheries and also audits for aquaculture sources.

In 2011, SSC secretariat ClientEarth criticised seafood brands for making misleading environmental claims on products such as tinned tuna, haddock, cod, and farmed fish. The environmental law group brought together the seven founding members of the SSC to address this.

SSC members signing up to the sourcing code are: Co-operative Food, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Feng Sushi, Harbour Lights Falmouth, River Cottage, Lyons Seafoods, New England Seafood Limited, The Saucy Fish Co / Icelandic Group UK Ltd, Young’s Seafood Limited, Direct Seafoods, Le Lien Ltd and M&J Seafood.

They have committed to implementing the sourcing code within one year, by which point they will have engagement plans in place to improve any medium or high risk fisheries or farms.

Jonathan Gorman, Group Sustainability Manager at Tesco, said: "We welcome these new voluntary codes of conduct on sourcing and labelling of fish and seafood.  We are working to ensure all our fish and seafood is sourced sustainably, and we want to ensure our customers have clear, consistent information so they can make informed decisions on what they want to buy."

James Thornton, Chief Executive at ClientEarth, said: “People looking for sustainable fish have often had too little information about where their fish and seafood comes from. When we launched the Sustainable Seafood Coalition three years ago, some thought getting so many businesses to agree to codes like this was impossible. The members deserve a lot of credit for showing it can be done.”

Mike Berthet, Director at M&J Seafood, said: “I am delighted that clarity surrounding  such terms  as  ‘sustainable and responsible’ has finally been resolved with the commitment of processors, retailers, restaurateurs and wholesale foodservice distributors such as M&J Seafood, under the leadership of ClientEarth and the Sustainable Seafood Coalition. It is refreshing that when necessary, we can all work together for the better improvement of the Seafood Industry.”