The study conducted by the association UFC-Que Choisir analysed the fish sold by seven large French retailers.

Most fish sold at large French supermarkets proves 'unsustainable'

FRANCE
Wednesday, December 19, 2018, 00:50 (GMT + 9)

A study conducted by a consumers association unveils the bad practices of large retailers in France related to sustainable fisheries, revealing that most of the fish sold was caught using unsustainable gear or comes from overexploited stocks.

86 per cent of the fish examined is "unsustainable". Cod is the fish with the worst result (88 per cent of non-sustainable fish), followed by sole and bass (86 per cent and 80 per cent of non-sustainable fish, respectively). (Photo: quechoisir.org)

The association UFC-Que Choisir conducted a survey between January 20 and February 3, 2019, in which it analysed the three main species widely consumed in France -- cod, sole and bass -- and found out that 86 per cent of the fish sold at the markets of the seven analysed retailers came from unsustainable fisheries.

The assessed supermarkets were: Système U, Intermarché, Leclerc, Casino, Carrefour, Auchan and Cora.

"The result is unfortunately sadly without appeal: the supermarket has no sustainable supply policy for the three species studied," the association claims.

Missing, fanciful or too vague labelling for 2 out of 3 fish. (Photo: quechoisir.org)

The purpose of the survey was twofold: to verify compliance with mandatory information on fishing methods and catch areas and to analyze the results on the sustainability of exploited resources, both in terms of fishing methods and catch areas.

The consumer association also points out the non-compliance of labeling regulations and stresses that in two-thirds of the cases, the mandatory information is absent, fanciful or too vague.

In this regard, the survey reveals that with more than three out of four poorly tagged fish, retailer Intermarché leads the list of non-compliance, followed by Système U and Leclerc, which respectively represent 76 per cent and 67 per cent of non-compliant labelling.

None of the big brands offers sustainable fishing. (Photo:quechoisir.org)

As regards the catch areas, the survey found vague references of the Atlantic or Mediterranean type and, in the absence of a precise maritime area, it is impossible to identify the fish from overexploited stocks. As for information on fishing methods, it is absent for one in four fish.

In view of the results of this survey, the association urges European fisheries ministers to strictly align the future quotas with the recommendations issued by the experts of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea and to require that regulatory labeling must incorporate an explicit indicator of fish sustainability.

 
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media

Print