Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrison and Waitrose have been accused of “misleading” consumers over the sustainability and responsibility of their scampi and langoustines.
Most langoustines – which are typically used for scampi – are caught in a damaging method called ‘bottom-trawling’ which drags fine-mesh nets across the seabed.
In a bid to address these issues, the supermarkets including brands Young’s and Whitby Seafoods are part of a five-year fishery improvement project (FIP) aimed at making the UK scampi industry more sustainable.
The five-year plan is due to end in April 2024 but Open Seas argue that the FIP project will “not be able to achieve its objectives” by this date, with 91% of improvement actions marked as ‘incomplete’.
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The report – titled ‘Failure of the scampi fishery improvement project‘ – states that bottom-trawling fishing is still causing problems as vessels catching langoustines are completely unmonitored, posing risks to sensitive and protected seabed.
Open Seas head of campaigns Nick Underdown told the Guardian “UK supermarkets and food companies are misleading their customers by giving the impression of sustainability and responsibility, while they have done very little to justify these environmental statements”.
He said it was not acceptable for retailers to refer to ‘improvement projects’ that seemingly go on forever with no real change for the oceans.
A spokesperson for Whitby Foods, which is the chair of the FIP, told the Guardian it will “address Open Seas’ concerns and deliver further improvements.”
“Our record of action speaks for itself and we strongly reject any suggestion we have misled people about our commitment to this important subject.”
