As the world's population increases so does pressure on fishery resources.
Our seas
Oceans cover more than 70% of our planet and support marine ecosystems, livelihoods and economies around the world.
Over-fishing and pollution threaten our seas, affecting marine life and seabirds, as well as humans. Countless communities rely on marine ecosystems, not just for fish as a staple food for millions of people, but also for their contribution to global trade, employment and economic security.
Nearly 80% of world fish stocks are fully exploited, or over-exploited. This means we're fishing so much that some fish stocks are at risk of collapsing and disappearing off the menu for ever, while others are fished so hard that additional pressures, such as climate change, make them very vulnerable to collapse.
In the North Sea serious challenges to the long term viability of many once common species such as cod, skate and plaice now exist.
Sustainable fishing
Sustainable fishing is a way of fishing responsibly, using methods that minimise the impact on the environment and other species that can be unintentionally affected by fishing. Seabirds and turtles, for example, are often entangled in the huge fishing nets used by commercial trawlers. By using sustainable methods of catching fish, other species aren't harmed. Sustainability also means fishing from well-stocked fisheries that have the capability to replenish themselves.
Fish farms can be sustainable by making sure they're situated away from predators, where there is good natural flushing and deep water to ensure that waste, such as faeces and uneaten food, doesn't accumulate in the cages. Other good practice includes preventing farmed fish from escaping so as not to affect wild fish populations and limiting chemical treatments, so they're only used when strictly necessary. Feed for farmed fish should also come from sustainable sources.
ASDA's Policy
In order to meet our target of selling only 100% sustainably sourced fish by 2010, we have taken threatened species - such as North Sea cod - off our fresh fish counters, and replaced them with more sustainable options.
We take steps to make sure we don't inadvertently buy fish that has been caught illegally, or fish that are immature. Our tuna is dolphin-friendly and we don't sell the overfished Bluefin tuna.
To help our customers make an informed choice, all of our fresh fish comes with information on where and when it was caught, and how it was stored. In fact, all ASDA fish counters have successfully completed the Marine Stewardship Council's (MSC) ‘chain of custody' audit, and we're concentrating on helping our suppliers achieve MSC approval for their fisheries.
The MSC is the leading certification programme for sustainable seafood, setting standards for sustainable fishing and seafood traceability. They ensure that MSC-labelled seafood comes from, and can be traced back to, a sustainable fishery.
What's more, we're lobbying national and international governments to support and improve policies which protect marine habitats. For example, in 2006, we called for the North Sea to be declared a marine conservation zone to preserve fish stocks and protect the livelihoods of the local fishermen who depend on it.
For more information on fish sustainability visit Fish Online or the Marine Stewardship Council.
