Three activists arrested during Greenpeace action at Costco in Kelowna

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.

Costco action in Kelowna

Greenpeace activists entered the Costco store on Highway 97 at 11:45 a.m., filled a shopping cart with Redlist seafood, wrapped chains around the cart and locked it to a freezer of fish.

Using helium balloons, the activists also raised a large banner that read:

“Don’t Buy, Don’t Sell Redlist Fish.”

After the activists refused to leave, a manager called police. Store employees also cut off the chains and lock and removed the cart of seafood.

The activists stayed inside the busy store, held banners and handed out leaflets to customers.

Media Attention and Costco ruse

Six members of the local media covered the story before police arrived at 12:25 p.m. The media filmed the action, took photos and interviewed activists.

The police told the media that the store manager had said don’t arrest the activists. It appears to have been a ruse.

After the media left, the police arrested the three activists, who had planned to leave voluntarily within an hour of the arrests.

Action outside the store

Outside, six more activists—including two in fish costumes:

•  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.”

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

At the request of the police and management, the activists outside took down their display, only to move it unnoticed to the street entrance to Costco.

Peterborough activity

Greenpeace also had a successful activity in Peterborough at a Sobeys grocery store.

Activists, some in fish costumes, handed out information to customers and were interviewed by local media.

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.

The online campaign

Online tools have been developed to encourage Canadians to demand that their supermarkets do moreto 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.”