FISH MAYTOUTMEARKSE

HELPING
THE BETTER CHOICE 1
 ABOUT THIS GUIDE
It is now a well known fact that fishing has left
stocks of popular fish like cod and tuna in serious
decline. To help ocean life recover, we need to
know more about the fish we choose to eat and
try less popular species. But knowing which fish
to choose at the supermarket or in a restaurant
can be a challenge.

Greenpeace has produced this guide to help you

make informed decisions so you can continue
eating fish more responsibly.

FIND OUT:
MILLION
WHERE’S BEST TO BUY FISH (p10)
EVERY YEAR OVER SEVEN CREATURES
A
TONNES OF FISH AND SE BACK INTO WHAT QUESTIONS TO ASK (p11)
ING
ARE THROWN DEAD OR DY E NOT WHAT WHICH FISH TO CHOOSE (p12)
AR
THE SEA BECAUSE THEY LOOKING FOR.
FISHING FLEETS WERE
©Hofford/Greenpeace

2 3
Cover:©Visser/Greenpeace
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
OVERFISHING is destroying the world’s oceans and the CHANGE FISHING PRACTICES Governments and companies
livelihoods that depend on them. Our appetite for fish is like supermarkets need to act more responsibly and change
exceeding the oceans’ limits and, worldwide, populations their policies to protect oceans. This will force the fishing
of large predatory fish such as tuna, swordfish, cod and industry to change to fishing methods that minimise bycatch
halibut are down by around 90% since the 1950s. and don’t damage sea beds, and to only fish from stocks that
are under less pressure.
DESTRUCTIVE FISHING is also damaging our oceans. Many
current fishing practices devastate sea beds while others ESTABLISH MARINE RESERVES
kill large numbers of seabirds, turtles, sharks, dolphins and Scientific evidence shows
other marine life as bycatch along with their target fish. that large networks of marine
Catching young fish before they have a chance to reproduce reserves – off limits to fishing –
is also commonplace. are needed to protect all ocean

©Ocampo/Greenpeace
life. Companies must put pressure
on governments to create these
aggregating
BAD PRACTICE: Fish jects
national parks at sea. Marine
floating ob
devices (FADs) are reserves allow fish stocks
g industry to
used by the fishin to recover as individuals
tha t they can be
attract tuna so can live longer, grow larger
in hu ge nets called purse
scooped up and reproduce. They can
magnet for many
seines. FADs are a also protect vulnerable
sharks and rays,
other fish including
s, an d are particularly migratory species such as
as well as tur tle
ile tuna which sharks, tuna and swordfish
attractive to juven
aining tuna and give all marine life
are critical to maint

©Ocampo/Greenpeace
un wanted bycatch more chance of surviving
populations. Any
ed – dead or dying – changes to the ocean
is usually dump
©Hilton/Greenpeace

n.
back into the ocea from climate change.

4 5
WHAT GREENPEACE IS DOING
We all have a part to play in protecting the world’s oceans.
Here is some of the work Greenpeace is doing to make

©Hilton/Greenpeace
©Hilton/Greenpeace
sure this happens:

INVESTIGATING Carrying out research and investigations

THE SOLUTIONS EXIST,

enables us to expose destructive fishing practices around
the world and identify solutions.

LOBBYING Holding governments, retailers and the fishing

BUT WE MUST ACT
NOW
industry to account ensures that solutions get put into practice.

TAKING ACTION Nonviolent direct action stops destructive

fishing at its source when people in positions of power fail

TIME IS RUNNING OUT

to act.

NOVEMBER 2010, GHANA

JUNE 2010, MEDITERRANEAN GREENPEACE INVESTIGATES ALLEGATIONS
GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS ATTEMPT TO FREE FROM LOCAL WORKERS OF SHARKS,
ENDANGERED BLUEFIN TUNA FROM CAGES. TURTLES AND DOLPHINS BEING CAUGHT
BY TUNA FISHING VESSELS.
npeace

©Greenpeace
©Hilton/Gree

6 7
 FISHING METHODS
MORE SUSTAINABLE N REPLACE THE
CA
LIKE POLE AND LINE
NG METHODS THAT
DESTRUCTIVE FISHI
E WORLD’S OCEANS
ARE DESTROYING TH
©Hilton/Greenpeace
WHERE TO BUY?
Making the best environmental choice when buying fish and
seafood can be difficult. But when it comes to supermarkets,
the choice is clear… Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose
and the Co-operative are leading the market with the most
progressive sourcing policies. As supermarkets sell 90% of
all fish sold in the UK, by changing their policies they can
completely transform the fishing industry.
‘The scale of moving all of our tinned tuna
to 100% pole and line caught was a
massive investment, but we were convinced
it was the most sustainable alternative.
We did not pass the cost of doing this
on to our customers as they expect us
to do the right thing.’
– ALLY DINGWALL, SAINSBURY’S
‘M&S supports the establishment of large scale
no-take marine reserves and believes that
the retail sector has a crucial role to
play in supporting this initiative.’
– RICHARD LUNEY, M&S
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WHAT TO ASK?
Asking questions of your local fishmonger, supermarket or
restaurant not only makes sure you know what you are eating,
but also challenges them to know what they are stocking.
Next time you want to buy fish, think about what fish you
are buying and where and how it was caught. Try asking the
following questions:
1. WHERE DID THIS FISH COME FROM?
Are the populations in decline?
How was it caught?*
Why is that sustainable?
2. CAN YOU RECOMMEND THE MOST SUSTAINABLE
FISH OPTION FOR ME?
If your supplier doesn’t know where the
fish comes from – or can’t answer your
questions, the chances are that it doesn’t
come from a sustainable source.
* Bottom and beam trawling catch huge amounts of
unwanted fish. As a general rule, and as a first step,
choose line caught fish wherever possible.
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WHAT TO CHOOSE? TINNED TUNA LEAGUE TABLE

People who eat fish can make a difference by avoiding fish Over the last decade, JOINT BEST
caught using the most destructive fishing methods or Greenpeace’s work has been
SAINSBURY’S AND
MARKS & SPENCER
from overfished stocks. They can also get involved directly critical in achieving change
in supporting Greenpeace’s work. among UK retailers. Most
2ND
recently, Greenpeace’s tuna WAITROSE
Greenpeace’s red list of fish to avoid highlights species that league table demonstrates that
have a very high risk of coming from unsustainable sources. supermarkets can change for 3RD
THE CO-OPERATIVE
The full list can be found at www.greenpeace.org.uk/redlist the better.
4TH
TESCO
3 TIPS WHEN CHOOSING FISH Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer,
5TH
and Waitrose all now only use ASDA
1. TRY LOCAL FISH Often it will be handline caught which is one pole and line caught tuna for
their own brand tinned labels. 6TH
of the most sustainable choices. Some of Britain’s fishermen –
MORRISONS
like the hand liners off the Cornish coast – are among the most
sustainable in Europe. We now need to see other 7TH
JOHN WEST
supermarkets following suit and
2.GO SMALL Depending on how it is caught, smaller can be all supermarkets making similar WORST
better. Small local fisheries can be among the most sustainable, moves with other fish species. PRINCES
especially where they use handlines or selective nets that are
not dragged over the seabed. Stocks of some of the smaller
species like mackerel and sardines are in much better shape.
SUSTAINABILITY IS NOT JUST
3.CELEBRATE SEAFOOD Thinking of seafood ABOUT FRESH FISH.
as something for a special occasion will IF YOU’RE BUYING TINNED TUNA, GHT.
CAU
change the way you think about fish. MAKE SURE IT’S POLE AND LINE
eenpeace
©Hilton/Gr
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FIND OUT MORE...
ABOUT THE FISH YOU BUY
There are lots of other organisations that can help you find
out more about how you can eat fish more responsibly:
Go to www.greenpeace.org.uk/redlist for a list of
fish commonly sold in supermarkets around the world
that have a very high risk of being sourced from
unsustainable fisheries.
You can view the Marine Conservation Society’s
sustainable seafood guide at www.mcsuk.org
Visit www.fishfight.net for information on chef
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s campaign and
TV series demanding a change in fishing policies.
www.fish2fork.com is the world’s first website
to review restaurants according to whether their
seafood is sustainable.
©Marple/Greenpeace
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eace
ABOUT GREENPEACE
©Parsons/Greenp
Protecting the world’s
oceans is just one area of
Greenpeace’s work. If you’d like to find out more
or get more involved, we would love to hear from you.
Campaign with us online – www.greenpeace.org.uk/oceans
Donate – www.greenpeace.org.uk/donate
Fundraise – www.greenpeace.org.uk/fundraise
Get our e-bulletin – www.greenpeace.org.uk/e-bulletin
Campaign in your area – www.greenpeace.org.uk/active
If you’d prefer to speak to someone about these ways to
help Greenpeace then call our Supporter Services team
on 0800 269 065 (Monday–Friday 9am to 5.30pm).
©Newman/Greenpeace
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 ©Floirendo/Greenpeace
Greenpeace works to expose global environmental problems
and to achieve solutions for a green and peaceful future.

Our vision of a better future is only as strong as the people

who support us. We rely totally on donations from individuals.
That way no government or company can compromise our work.

To make a donation today please call 0800 269 065

or visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/donate

January 2011

Canonbury Villas
London N1 2PN
www.greenpeace.org.uk
info@uk.greenpeace.org
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