Greenpeace Claims Endangered Fish Found On Loblaws Shelves
Posted November 6, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
If you shop at Loblaws, you might be eating endangered fish.
As part of a national campaign launched Thursday morning, Greenpeace is urging Canadians to stop buying certain types of fish sold at the country’s largest grocer that are either threatened or fished in a way that could lead to their extinction.
Police arrested two activists after they climbed the roof of a Loblaws store in the city’s east end and unfurled several giant banners.
Other protesters hung a giant fishing net from the store, taped posters on windows and put crime-scene tape at eight other Loblaws locations.
“Loblaws wants to be known as a ‘green’ grocer, but our surveys indicate that the company is selling 14 of the 15 Redlist species that are most destructively fished or farmed,” noted Beth Hunter, oceans coordinator with Greenpeace.
“We are asking Loblaws and other retailers to take the pressure off threatened fisheries now by purchasing their seafood only from sustainably managed fisheries. If they don’t, there soon won’t be any fish left to sell.”
In a report released last June, Greenpeace identified a so-called Redlist of seafood which should be taken off the shelves until stocks recover or fishing and fish farming practices improve.
Some of the seafood in danger?
- Atlantic haddock (scrod)
- Atlantic cod
- Atlantic halibut
- Atlantic salmon (farmed)
- Atlantic sea scallops
- Chilean seabass
- Greenland halibut (turbot)
- Hard shell clams (Arctic surf clams)
- New Zealand hoki
- Orange roughy
- Sharks
- Skates and rays
- Swordfish
- Tropical shrimps and prawns
- Tuna – bluefin, bigeye, yellowfin
Loblaws denies the allegations, saying it partners with the Marine Steward Ship Council which helps reverse the decline of fish stocks.
“Our consumers can be assured that Canadian regulatory requirements are adhered to by our company, as well as ensuring that domestic and imported fish and seafood products are procured through reputable, licensed suppliers,” the chain notes in a statement.
Two protestors were arrested after the demonstration, and police quickly removed the banner from the store.
For a more complete list, courtesy of the Endangered Fish Alliance, click here.
