In an open letter to Ministers, a collective of global retail and supply-chain heavyweights warns its patience is running out. The consortium of seafood companies demands that Coastal States seize their chance to turn the tide on over two decades of unsustainable management.
‘We, the North Atlantic Pelagic Advocacy Group (NAPA), represent the global marketplace for seafood in the Northeast Atlantic. We are writing to tell you; enough is enough,’ the grouping warns Ministers from coastal states around the North Atlantic.
‘Sustainable fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic must be your priority at the upcoming 2023 Coastal States consultations. We are asking you not to walk away from this year’s talks without a unanimous and sustainable agreement on catches for 2024.’
NAPA warns that inaction to date is driving the supply chain to re-think their purchasing decisions.
‘We would continue our stand to not source fishmeal containing uncertified blue whiting,’ stated Skretting Norway, while ASDA warns that it plans to ‘cease sourcing Northeast Atlantic mackerel from FAO Area 27.’
‘Young’s branded products would cease sourcing from these fisheries,’ a Young’s commented.
According to NAPA, the sustainable future of Northeast Atlantic fish stocks hangs in the balance awaiting, hinging on these states’ agreement, while Atlanto-scandian herring, mackerel and blue whiting are being overexploited as the key fishing nations of the Northeast Atlantic remain unable to agree on total quotas that are in line with the evidence-based advice of international scientists.
They point out that the bilateral deal made in July between the UK and Norway that saw the UK allow Norwegian pelagic vessels to access its waters in exchange for mackerel quota, demonstrates that the will to collaborate and forge agreements is there. NAPA states that since 1996, there has only been one year with effective agreements in place supporting sustainable management across all three stocks.
‘The remaining 26 years saw you collectively set excessive quotas – quotas that were unsustainable, untenable, and directly caused the loss of Marine Stewardship Council certifications, with huge implications for NAPA members who are significant buyers of these fisheries. If businesses were to withdraw from these fisheries, the economic impact on Coastal States would be sizable,’ NAPA states, directly addressing the fisheries ministers of the coastal states.
‘The Northeast Atlantic should represent an easy case for international cooperation. You are some of the wealthiest democracies in the world boasting access to rich stock data, scientific expertise and highly sophisticated resources in terms of fishing technology, controls and enforcement. It’s time to put your old habits to bed and protect these vital stocks.’
