Saving Seafood

Tesco: We need harder, faster progress from aquaculture

March 12, 2020 — If seafood is to realize its full potential as a global food security solution – providing healthy, sustainable, and affordable protein and meeting shifting consumer expectations, then the aquaculture sector must accelerate its progress hard and fast. That’s the message from one of the U.K.’s leading retailers, delivered at the North Atlantic Seafood Forum (NASF) 2020 by Tesco Responsible Sourcing Director Giles Bolton.

Addressing delegates at the business conference in Bergen, Norway, Bolton said the food industry has to change, as too much of it is unsustainable.

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Tesco joins Ocean Disclosure Project

March 26, 2019 — The following was released by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership:

Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is pleased to announce that UK retailer Tesco has become the newest participant in the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP).

Tesco has published two seafood disclosures, containing a list of the main wild-catch fisheries from which Tesco sourced in 2017 and 2018, along with information on fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact.

Giles Bolton, Responsible Sourcing Director for Tesco said: “We want our customers to be able to enjoy sustainable and affordable fish now and long into the future, so we’re determined to play our part in protecting the world’s oceans and fish stocks. Publishing data as part of the Ocean Disclosure Project underlines our commitment to transparency right across our supply chains, as we continue to drive up standards in environmental sustainability.”

SFP started the ODP in 2015 to provide a valuable information resource for responsible investors, seafood consumers, and others interested in sustainable seafood. To date, 17 other companies in North America and Europe have participated.

Other ODP participants include UK retailers Asda, Co-op Food, Lidl UK, and Morrisons, and US retailers Publix Supermarkets, Walmart, Giant Eagle, and Meijer.

“By participating in the Ocean Disclosure Project, Tesco has demonstrated its commitment to responsible sourcing of seafood,” said Tania Woodcock, ODP Project Manager. “Tesco’s disclosure represents a significant proportion of the seafood consumed in the UK. We hope that other UK retailers and seafood suppliers will also be encouraged to support transparency in the seafood sector by disclosing their seafood sourcing.”

Ian Rolmanis, SFP’s Buyer Engagement Director, UK & EU, added “SFP and Tesco have been working together for many years on the sustainability of their seafood supply chain, and the release of their wild sourcing information through ODP is a very exciting move towards increased transparency and should be commended.”

Tesco’s full profile can be viewed at: https://oceandisclosureproject.org/companies/Tesco