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“We are caretakers for the health of our oceans and their ability to supply food for future generations. Imagine a world where we had destroyed life in our oceans. It does not have to be that way if organisations that buy significant amounts of fish, such as London Boroughs, take responsibility for the effects of their fish-buying by specifying only sustainable fish.” Kath Dalmeny, Sustainable Fish City campaign and member of the London Food Board |
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People are eating more fish than they used to, and a lot of it is being caught by destructive methods. The world is now seriously at risk of losing some species from our seas for ever. Some scientists estimate that, at current rates of decline, most of the world’s fish stocks could collapse within our lifetimes. Millions of people depend on fish for food and for their livelihood, so this would have dire social and ecological consequences. The good news is that there’s still time to do something about it. Fish stocks can recover if they are managed sustainably, and if we all stop buying fish from badly managed stocks or caught with damaging fishing methods.
It may be a surprise to learn that London Boroughs buy a lot of fish. This is used in catering for schools, council offices, meetings and events, hospitals, care homes and other services such as meals-on-wheels and lunch clubs. Millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money are spent on such food every year. So London Boroughs are well placed to make a significant difference with their fish-buying policies.
We would like to see all London Boroughs adopt sustainable fish buying policies. The Greater London Authority, Metropolitan Police, Transport for London, City Hall and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games have already done so, as well as lots of London’s universities, businesses and restaurants, together serving over 100 million meals a year. The same standards have also been adopted by Central Government (and in guidance for catering for the NHS). These organisations have committed to taking the simple steps set out in the Sustainable Fish City pledge:
- Avoid the worst: Removing endangered species from menus and catering – those rated as ‘fish to avoid’ by the Marine Conservation Society: www.fishonline.org/advice/avoid/
- Promote the best: Serving sustainably managed fish – MSC-certified fish, and those rated as ‘fish to eat’ by the Marine Conservation Society: www.fishonline.org/advice/eat/
- Improve the rest: Helping suppliers serve only sustainable fish with support from organisations such as Good Catch: www.goodcatch.org.uk and the MSC: www.msc.org
We also want to see sustainable fish promoted in schools, to help children learn how they can help save the world’s oceans.
Find out more about sustainable fish on the Sustainable Fish City website.
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“The Duke of Cambridge organic gastropub was the first to gain Marine Stewardship Council chain of custody certification. This allows us to sell verifiably sustainable fish and to promote it to our customers, confident that we are helping conserve precious marine resources. The same should be happening in catering for every London council meeting, canteen, school and hospital.” Geetie Singh, Sloeberry Trading (runs the Duke of Cambridge organic gastropub) and member of the London Food Board |
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What can London Boroughs do? Sign up to at least two of the actions above and become a Sustainable Fish Borough.
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