We are committed to ensuring that fresh, frozen and canned fish products do not contribute to the overexploitation, depletion or extinction of fish species.
Since 2016, and every three years, we have been assessing the conservation status of all the species we sell and based on the findings, we adjust our sustainable fishing strategy. Assessments consider the various species’ threat levels following the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List of Threatened Species).
Our strategy is based on three commitments and is reviewed whenever areas for improvement are identified in an assessment. It happened in 2020, based on the evaluation carried out in 2019 that analysed more than 200 fish and shellfish species.
Ban the purchase and sale of species classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ and for which no specific special permits exist for such purpose.
Ban the sale of species classified as ‘Endangered’ whenever they are not sourced from aquaculture and/or from sustainably managed stocks and/or do not have a sustainability certificate (e.g. MSC or ASC).
Limit promotional activities of species classified as ‘Vulnerable’ whenever they are not sourced from aquaculture and/or from sustainably managed stocks and/or do not have a sustainability certificate (e.g. MSC or ASC).
In 2021, we continued to honour our commitments and identified the need for closer monitoring of changes in Atlantic tuna stocks. To this end, we follow the established management plan and have ensured that stock integrity is maintained in the coming years. In 2022, we will conduct a new assessment of the fish and shellfish species we use in our Private Brand and perishable products.
Concerning ‘Critically Endangered’ species, only the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was classified under this threat level in the analyses we carried out. Although the European eel is produced from aquaculture, these production systems rely on the collection of ‘young’ specimens (glass eels) from natural environments, which continues to pressure wild populations. As such, we stopped selling it in our stores in 2016.
Information on compliance with the Group’s Sustainable Fishing Strategy was confirmed by an external and independent entity for the Group’s 2021 Annual Report.
Read the 2021 Independent Limited Assurance Report.