Retailers hold a fair amount of influence in this realm as they transact about 50% of all seafood sales in Canada (Credit: grid.epsilon via Flickr)
Greenpeace Canada released a report on the state of Supermarket Seafood Sustainability today. "Emerging from the Deep" details the need for the food retail sector to step up their sustainable seafood policies and offerings in order to help consumers navigate through the sea of labeling, certifications, health concerns and conflicting information around seafood purchases. Retailers hold a fair amount of influence in this realm as they transact about 50% of all seafood sales in Canada.
Greenpeace ranked Canada's eight major supermarket chains including Loblaw, Overwaitea Food Group, Safeway, Costco Federated Cooperatives, Ltd., Metro, Sobey's and Walmart. This is the third such ranking report produced by Greenpeace in the last three years.
Greenpeace scored these retailers against a set of criteria based on the strength, comprehensiveness and implementation of their seafood policies, the information they make available to their customers, and the number of harmfully-fished Redlist species.
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Greenpeace's Redlist species are typically tagged as such due to the fishery or production method having a negative impact on the target species or other marine species, leading to ecosystem alterations, having negative social implications, or being poorly managed/illegally fished.
In order to get full marks, a supermarket must have strong policies that are fully implemented and not sell any Redlist species. Greenpeace applauds all of the retailers for implementing policies on seafood sustainability. The overall assessment is that these grocers have started to pay attention to sourcing seafood more responsibly and have all made solid progress since the initial evaluations in 2009.
However, only three of the retailers received passing grades and all retailers are continuing to sell a minimum of 4 Redlist species, all the way up to Sobey's which carries 11 of these species. Loblaw rose to the top of the ranking with a 62% approval rating, Overwaitea with 59% and Safeway with 51%. Costco landed in last place with only a 37% approval rating.
The bottom line is that there is still much room for improvement, but knowing that these issues are on the retailers' radar is a step in the right direction.
For more information on sustainable seafood, check out our sustainable seafood program.
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5 Comments
4:50 PM
Dr Suzuki: I was diagnosed with Ulcertive Collitis in 1992; since then, i have decided to completely change my diet; and have been able to avoid having any type of surgerical procedure. I understand the importance of looking after our climate, our world, so that our world can inturn take care of us.The more damage we do to our climate system; the more money the drug companies will make. I believe there are side affects to every med, as well, there are also side affects to the chemicals we use every day; in and around our homes. I am doing what i can in my home to convince my parents who are of the Italian custom, that we have to make changes now, so that we dont become sicker as time goes on. Govertment Officials dont want ot listen because the drug companies; which are owned by the goverment, are making billions; at the expense of every person who lives in this country. I believe in supporting the natural growth process; using the natural elements from the earth to make products, that we can in turn use for every day use.
4:54 PM
Sustainable seafood means;; seafood that has been modified, so that it lasts longer on the shelf; The very thing used to prolong the shelf life, is what is causing people to become ill in different ways.,
1:46 PM
I don’t eat any seafood. I don’t trust it any more. I don’t know where it comes from, how polluted it is, if it’s farmed or fresh, or if it is sustainable. I don’t trust anyone any more about the safety of our food, except organic!
9:33 PM
I’ve been writing letters to Sobey’s, metro and Loblaws!!! I suggest writing them a letter too! Tell them to follow david and Get off the red list!
This is their response:
Dear Mr. Krimer,
Thank you for your email.
We would like to ensure you that at Metro, we take sustainability very seriously and have made some changes over the past year.
Seven species were removed from Metro’s seafood counters like the Northwest Atlantic cod. We are also working with industry and the scientific community to improve fishing, farming practice and traceability.
If you want to learn more about Metro policies, please visit our sustainable fisheries dedicated website: http://www.metro.ca/peche-durable.en.html
Thank you for contacting us and we encourage you to continue to follow all the past, present and future action Metro does for fisheries and farming sustainability.
Regards,
Natalie, Customer Care
11:15 PM
We need more of this type of reporting! This is what the average consumer requires before making informed decisions when buying seafood. What about the fruit and vegetables that we feed our children? Pesticide free? To what degree? Organic, wild, or farmed — we need to be informed before buy…
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