The Marine Stewardship Council has praised the effort of the UK Government to source 100 percent sustainable fish for all central government procurement. From September 2011, all new catering contracts will include a mandatory requirement that “All fish are demonstrably sustainable with all wild-caught fish meeting the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries”, including MSC certification.
MSC says that government buying standards make it easier for buyers to source sustainable products and services. All central government departments will have to follow the new food buying standards. This represents a total £16.1 million expenditure per annum on fish by government buyers and affects (by Defra’s estimate) the meals of 400,000 people. The standards will also be promoted to the wider public sector.
The new standards would establish UK as world leaders in sustainable seafood for Government procurement. Ruth Westcott, MSC UK Commercial Officer said the effort is workable because MSC certified fisheries go through a rigorous assessment process to demonstrate that they are sustainable, and such strong government standards will really support these fisheries.
