At the urging of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) and World Wide Fund for Nature–Netherlands (WWF-NL) Dutch Retailers have agreed to use the second week of September as ‘Think Fish Week’.
Dutch retailers including Agrimarkt, Albert Heijn (Ahold), Bas van der Heijden, C1000, COOP, Digros, Dekamarkt, Dirk van den Broek, EMTE, Hoogvliet, Jan Linders, Jumbo, Lidl, MCD supermarkten, Poiesz, PLUS, Spar, and Superunie (supermarket purchasing organisation) will actively promote the wide range of MSC and ASC labelled products available to shoppers through in-store nationwide advertising. The campaign will encourage consumers to make an informed choice for sustainably wild-caught (MSC) and responsibly farmed seafood (ASC).
The first ‘Think Fish Week’ is supported by over 85 per cent of Dutch supermarkets, reflecting the growing support and awareness among retailers and consumers for environmentally responsible seafood.
Nearly 3,300 outlets will be displaying MSC and ASC labelled products, including Albert Heijn, Netherlands largest supermarket chain; Lidl; COOP and Spar. Foodservice suppliers Sligro and Sodexo will also join the campaign, bringing certified seafood to the forefront in workplace and school canteens throughout the country.
“Retailers have an important role to play in promoting sustainable seafood,” says Nicolas Guichoux, MSC Global Commercial Director. “By sourcing and promoting certified products they help their customers to make responsible choices when shopping for fish. It is wonderful to see our partners supporting the ‘Think Fish Week’ and actively promoting sustainable seafood.”
“We are delighted to work with MSC and WWF-Netherlands on the ‘Think Fish Week’,” says Bas Geerts, Standards Director ASC. “This campaign will help grow the global market for responsible seafood and inform consumers about the impact of their choices; and, how they can actively help the aquaculture industry become more environmentally and socially responsible.”
Elies Arps, Senior Advisor Sustainable Markets WWF-NL adds: “Our oceans are diverse and beautiful, but also vulnerable and important for our existence. Fish is the main source of protein for around one billion people. Furthermore, seafood is healthy and affordable. As the world’s population grows, the demand for protein-rich food and, thus, fish will increase. Oceans are overfished, mangroves are destroyed to make room for fish farms, and large fishing nets are damaging the seabed and coral reefs that act as nurseries. Consumers often believe that they do not have the power to act on these issues. But by choosing seafood with the ASC or MSC label they can make a difference and help to protect the oceans.”