Sustainable fishing

Each of these sources has a range of associated issues that we are very aware of. Over the years we have been able to develop a fishing policy and supply base that addresses most of them and where there is still room for development we are actively continuing to work towards an ever more responsible fishing policy. Fishing affects not only the stocks of fish in the sea and the number of fish of the right size available to catch but it also affects the populations of other animals. For example the number of prawns will increase if the population of cod is depleted as there are fewer cod eating them.

You can be sure that the fresh fish you buy at Waitrose will be of the highest quality, be fully traceable and will have been sourced in the most responsible way possible at the time. Waitrose work in conjunction with The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) whose mission is to work for sustainable marine fisheries by promoting responsible, environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable fisheries practice whilst maintaining the biodiversity, productivity and ecological processes of the marine environment. We use the MSC logo on fish that have been certified by them.

Our carefully chosen range of fish

At Waitrose we have an extensive, very carefully selected, range of fresh fish available. However there are some species of fish that we have decided not to sell. Fish not sold on the basis of sustainability and concerns over declining stocks include North Sea Atlantic cod, common skate, marlin, wild Atlantic salmon, blue fin and big eye tuna, sturgeon products, shark, ling, dogfish and Chilean sea bass.

We will de-list species that we believe are threatened based on the best and most objective advice we can get and most recently took this decision with orange roughy. Waitrose withdrew from the North Sea Cod and Haddock fishery in 1999 in response to concerns about the sustainability of the fish stocks.

Using the best fishing methods

Fishing can also affect the environment through the fishing technique and resultant physical damage, for example deep water trawling leading to physical damage of seamounts. It is for this reason that Waitrose recently stopped stocking orange roughy, a deep water species that is caught using deep water trawling methods.

To minimise the effect on other species Waitrose favours selective fishing techniques and methods such as hook and line but is very aware of the potential damage to seabirds including albatross. Long line vessels supplying Waitrose operate to best practice procedures of using extra weighting to ensure that baited hooks sink before the birds can become entangled and using streamers and buoys which fly from the back of the boats as a deterrent, as well as setting the hooks at night.