Tesco stores in southwest England will source locally harvested sardines, sprats and scallops exclusively from vessels certified under the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS) as part of a pilot project launched on Tuesday.
The announcement, issued by Seafish (the United Kingdom’s Sea Fish Industry Authority), comes as Tesco pledges to sponsor local vessels participating in the RFS program with an investment of GBP 25,000 (USD 39,809, EUR 28,475).
“We are excited that this project is underway,” said Jo Wren, regional marketing manager in the southwest for Tesco. “This is a great opportunity for us to show that we are sourcing our seafood responsibly and to ensure that we are meeting the needs of our customers at a local level.”
Seafood caught by RFS vessels and sold at Tesco in the southwest will bear the RFS logo.
Developed by Seafish in 2006, the RFS is an independent, audited assessment that promotes environmentally friendly fishing practices and is based on the British Standards Institution’s Publicly Available Specifications.
Nearly 600 British vessels participate in the RFS program, with more than 350 fully certified and 10 new boats joining the scheme monthly. They represent more than 40 percent of the UK’s annual seafood catch.
“We are delighted that Tesco has chosen to take this step, which will significantly raise the profile of responsibly sourced seafood, the future of our industry,” said Jon Harman, development director at Seafish. “We are looking forward to working with Tesco and its suppliers and hope that the success of this trial will be replicated in other stores throughout the country.”
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