Marine Conservation Society

Supermarket Seafood Survey breakdown

Booths
Score - 49%
Award - none
Commendation - Most potential

Pro's - Zero fish to avoid, Good percentage of fish to eat, Positive attitude towards improvement

Con's - Labelling & consumer awareness, Engagement in sustainability initiatives, Seafood Policy, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
Booths have been a welcome newcomer to this year’s supermarket survey - as a small but growing retailer with relatively low resources MCS was very impressed at the seafood sold in Booths. They sold zero fish to avoid and almost half of their seafood was on the MCS fish to eat list. However, they currently have little policy and minimal further engagement in seafood sustainability. Booths have entered the survey with the agenda of showing transparency and benchmarking their current practice. They endeavour to vastly improve in time for the next survey and will be working closely with MCS to create a comprehensive seafood sourcing policy in the near future. 

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The Co-operative
Score - 84%
Award - Gold
Commendation - Best sustainability initiative

Pro's - Strong overall Policy, Zero Fish to Avoid, Engagement in seafood sustainability initiatives, Better labelling

Con's - Labelling could improve, Farmed fish policy, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
The Co-op has been a strong contender for a number of years now and has this year has earned the MCS Gold award for sustainable seafood. Notable successes are good labelling, zero fish to avoid and strong overall policy and sustainability initiatives. Co-op is jointly leading the way in sustainable seafood, however there is always room for improvement. In the future MCS would like to see the Co-op add a bit more detail to their labelling, farmed policy and to improve their policy to cover all seafood sold in store. The Co-op is currently a great choice for buying sustainable seafood. 

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Iceland
Score - 58%
Award - none
Commendation - none

Pro's - Good Wild Seafood Policy, Good percentage of fish to eat

Con's - Labelling & consumer awareness, Engagement in sustainability initiatives, Farmed fish Policy, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
Iceland was a good contender in this year’s supermarket survey, with a good wild seafood policy, low sales of fish to avoid and a good percentage of fish to eat sold in store. However MCS felt that Iceland’s Aquaculture policy still has room for improvement, the labelling of seafood products and Iceland’s engagement in sustainability initiatives is also something that requires work. MCS believe that with some small Improvements Iceland could do very well in the next survey. 

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Morrisons
Score - 66%
Award - none
Commendation - Best labeling

Pro's - Strong wild fish policy, good proportion of fish to eat, Best labelling

Con's - Engagement in seafood sustainability initiatives, Consumer awareness, Farmed fish policy, Policy covers only own brand seafood, Fish to avoid

Summary
Morrisons are a good contender and  have a strong policy for wild caught seafood and a good percentage of fish to eat, they are also the leaders in retail on seafood labelling, however they still need to improve on farmed fish policy, consumer awareness and engagement in initiatives to contribute towards the sustainability of seafood. 

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Marks & Spencer
Score - 84%
Award - Gold
Commendation - Best overall seafood policy

Pro's - Solid Policy in all areas, Good percentage of fish to eat, Best overall sustainability initiatives, Policy that covers All seafood

Con's - Labelling

Summary

Marks & Spencer were a very strong competitor this year coming joint first with the Coop. They have worked hard in recent years and this shows in the achievement of the MCS gold standard. Marks & Spencer have the most comprehensive seafood policy of all the retailers as it covers all seafood sold in store, both the farmed and wild caught aspects of this are strong. They do need to work on the labelling of their seafood products, as it can be hard to ascertain provenance in store, however the rest of their consumer awareness is good. Perhaps most impressive is the pro active work that Marks & Spencer are doing in driving sustainability forward in the seafood industry through research, projects and initiatives in fish farms and wild fisheries at sea. Marks & Spencer is currently a great option for consumers when shopping for sustainable seafood. 

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Sainsbury's
Score - 74%
Award - Silver
Commendation - Best farmed policy

Pro's - Strong overall Policy, Best farmed Policy, Engagement in seafood sustainability initiatives

Con's - Labelling, Still some Fish to avoid, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
Sainsbury’s have been a strong contender in this year’s supermarket survey and have met the MCS silver standard for sustainable seafood. Sainsbury’s have been very proactive through engagement in initiatives to increase the sustainability of seafood and also have a strong overall policy. Sainsbury’s really excels in farmed fish policy for which it has been awarded a commendation. To do better next time MCS would like to see Sainsbury’s implement their policy for all seafood sold, improve labelling and selling zero fish to avoid. Overall MCS would recommend Sainsbury's as a good option for consumers when shopping for sustainable seafood.

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Tesco
Score - 64%
Award - none
Commendation - none

Pro's - Strong overall Policy, Over half seafood is fish to Eat

Con's - Labelling & Consumer Awareness, The highest percentage of Fish to avoid, Sustainability initiatives, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
Tesco have been working hard in recent years to create a more comprehensive policy and increase the sustainability of the seafood they sell. They currently have good policy and a good percentage of green rated fish from the MCS fish to eat list, however they are also the retailer with the highest percentage of fish to avoid and could do much more proactive work into seafood sustainability. To do better next survey MCS would like to see Tesco reduce the number of fish to avoid they source, increase labelling and consumer awareness towards seafood sustainability in store and engage in more initiatives to increase the sustainability of seafood.  Tesco would also benefit from applying their policy to all seafood sold in store and not just own brand.

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Waitrose
Score - 72%
Award - Silver
Commendation - Best Wild Caught Policy

Pro's - Zero Fish to Avoid, Best Wild Seafood Policy, Strong overall seafood policy

Con's - Labelling & consumer awareness, Engagement in sustainability initiatives, Policy covers only own brand seafood

Summary
Waitrose were a strong contender in this year’s supermarket survey, with a solid overall seafood policy and zero sales of fish to avoid. Waitrose wild capture policy is especially strong as is the sustainable seafood sold in store; however MCS felt that Waitrose Aquaculture policy could be improved as could the labelling of seafood products and Waitrose engagement in sustainability initiatives. It would also be positive to see waitrose policy extended to cover all seafood sold in store. Overall MCS would recommend Waitrose as a good option for consumers when shopping for sustainable seafood. 

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Still running the race

Non-starters