Orange roughy is caught by destructive bottom trawling, and
three of the eight stocks in New Zealand waters where the species
is caught have been fished to collapse and closed after numbers
reached critical levels.
"The rest of the world is saying "no thanks" to our
unsustainable seafood, but our Government insists on continuing to
exploit it," said Karli Thomas, Greenpeace New Zealand oceans
campaigner.
Last week Trader Joes, a USA chain with over 300 supermarkets,
confirmed it had discontinued sales of orange roughy "based on
customer feedback and in support of work to source sustainable
seafood."(1)
Last month Canada's largest retail chain, Loblaw, confirmed it
had stopped stocking orange roughy and Patagonian toothfish for
similar reasons.(2) Since the start of 2009 four Canadian
supermarket chains have stopped selling orange roughy and one has
removed hoki from sale. Hoki is also caught by destructive bottom
trawling.
Last year Waitrose, the UK supermarket chain used by the royal
family, announced it no longer stocked New Zealand caught hoki as
it failed to meet the store's sustainability policy prompting
headlines reading "No hoki for Queen".(3)
"While we continue to fish using destructive fishing methods
and pretend the quota system takes care of everything, our industry
and officials will increasingly find themselves in damage control
mode internationally," said Thomas.
Neither of New Zealand supermarket chains, Progressive
Enterprises and Foodstuffs, has introduced sustainable seafood
policies. Both sell orange roughy.(4)
"New Zealanders are being short-changed by our government and
our supermarkets when it comes to seafood. Sustainable seafood
policies make environmental sense, and they make economic sense, in
both the short and the long term," said Thomas.
Other contacts: Karli Thomas, Greenpeace New Zealand oceans campaigner, 021 905 582
Phil Crawford, Greenpeace New Zealand media & communications 021 22 99 594
Notes: 1.http://www.traderjoes.com/static/action_issues.asp#Seafood
2.http://www.thestar.com/unassigned/article/760679--loblaw-guides-consumers-towards-sustainable-seafood
3.http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/2611187/Kiwi-hoki-off-Queens-menu
4.http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/sos/while-stocks-last
Exp. contact date: 2010-04-30 00:00:00