Mass police response during Greenpeace action at Costco in Kingston

The goal of the confrontation campaign is to convince the major chains to stop selling Redlist species—seafood that is the most threatened by over-harvesting.

Greenpeace Executive Director Bruce Cox led the outside activities to inform store customers of Costco’s failures.

Costco action in Kingston

Cox and the activists were confronted by police almost immediately after the action started.

Ten police cars responded to Costco’s call to put an immediate halt to a peaceful Greenpeace demonstration.

The action was aimed at letting customers know about the store’s refusal to implement a sustainable seafood policy.

The action began when Greenpeace activists entered the Costco store at 1015 Centennial Drive and:

• used helium balloons to suspend a large banner that read:

     “Don’t Buy, Don’t Sell Redlist Fish.”

• filled a shopping cart with Redlist seafood
• wrapped chains around the cart and locked it to a freezer of fish to disrupt   sales
• held up banners and handed out leaflets to customers.

Police, some in SWAT gear, removed two activists from the premises while store management attempted to remove the banner and chains.

Threatened with mass arrest

After assessing the situation, Kingston police threatened to arrest everyone on site unless Greenpeace activists complied with the store’s demands to end the demonstration and vacate the premises.

Satisfied with the action, Greenpeace activists complied and moved the action to the store’s parking lot entrance where they were met with honks of support from Kingston residents. No arrests were made.

Local media were on hand to document the confrontation and interviewed Executive Director Cox and other activists who were there, defending our oceans.

Action outside the store

In addition to the action in the store, more activists—including two in fish costumes–peacefully canvassed the area. They:
•    talked with customers,
•    passed out pamphlets,
•    set up a 10-foot tuna skeleton replica, and
•    raised two banners reading
     -  “Costco: Wholesale Ocean Destruction”
     -  “Don’t Buy, Don’t Sell Redlist Fish.”

Cox also presented a Costco manager with the new Greenpeace report, Out of Stock, Out of Excuses: Ranking retailers on seafood sustainability.

Comment at the Scene

“Costco and Canada’s other large supermarket chains are major accomplices in seafood and ocean destruction,” said Cox. “Greenpeace is at this Costco store to let consumers know that it must stop selling Redlist fish and begin implementing policies that promote the sale sustainable seafood.”

Campaign to Confront Canada’s major supermarket chains

Greenpeace activists will challenge store management at chain outlets in 19 cities in five provinces in the coming weeks.

They will also provide store customers with information on the failings of each outlet to ensure all seafood sold is sustainably caught and farmed.

Other Day Four Activities

On day four, Greenpeace activists in Rimouski, Que. and Nelson, B.C. had another great day.
In Rimouski, despite rain for the whole activity in front of an IGA store (Sobeys chain) activists and two local volunteers pressed on and got great media coverage from tv, radio and the local newspaper.

In Nelson, the activity in front of a Wal-Mart caused management to call police immediately.

The activists were asked to move to public property and they did. The activity was at a shopping mall that included a Save-on-Foods store (Overwaitea chain) so activists were able to talk to customers from both stores about seafood issues.

Good customer and media interest at this activity.

The online campaign

Online tools have been developed to encourage Canadians to demand that their supermarkets do more to protect seafood and the oceans 

The cyber tools can be found here.

New Greenpeace report shows need for the campaign

The confrontation campaign follows the release Friday of a new Greenpeace report, Outof Stock, Out of Excuses: Ranking retailers on seafood sustainability.

Download the report here.

All Canada’s major grocery chains received failing rankings on their efforts to provide consumers with seafood that is sustainably caught and farmed.

Serious situation in the world’s oceans

The depletion of seafood stocks in the world’s oceans is severe.

Media have reported today that a new global study shows that there are
now 85 to 90 per cent less fish and marine mammals than there once
were. Over exploitation is the main cause of the decline.

Supermarkets are major accomplices in seafood loss.

“Costco has refused to take any action to ensure fish for the future,”
said Sarah King, a Greenpeace Oceans Campaigner. “We’re here to send a
strong message that the time to act is now.”