petesnr Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 There are all sorts of technical measures that can affect size and species caught. Trawl speed is one thing--cameras show that if the net is towed more slowly then many cod just swim out of the net. Square rather than diamond shaped mesh allows the mesh to stay open so that more small fish escape. It was interesting on the first programme that the inshore netter said that they had used large meshed nets for years to fish cod in a sustainable way but once the quota is gone they now revert to smaller mesh for other species and end up catching more cod that have to be discarded! The question of enforcement of no discards is a thorny one but in general if regulations are in place then a good proportion of operators will abide by the rules. there will always be some who break the rules but a few high profile prosecutions could help. The question of profitability comes back to stock levels. If we have reached the stage where you need to have a boat costing millions of pounds and you have to travel 90 miles offshore to catch adequate fish--isnt this an indication that the stock is overfished? If stocks were good then fish like cod would be everywhere and the need for expensive giant fish destroyers wouldnt be there. If all fisherman had to bring back all of their catch then they would adapt their methods to try to catch the most profitable species but markets for less well known species would also open up. Petesnr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 It's great to see tv chefs backing and promoting the issues highlighted in the End of the Line film. Well done to channel 4 Tell the missus to check for rod and line caught tags on cans of Tuna - "every little helps" PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotu2uk Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 How do you go about reporting a company for misleading advertising? If loads of ppl reported Tesco and Princes, they would have to change. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 (edited) Angling Trust news release http://www.anglingtrust.net/news.asp?itemid=689&itemTitle=Angling+Trust+Joins+Fish+Fight+Campaign+But+Warns+There+Is+So+Much+More+Wrong+With+The+Common+Fisheries+Policy Edited January 13, 2011 by Stuie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike02380 Posted January 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 http://www.channel4.com/4food/the-big-fish-fight there are quite a few shows on as part of the fish fight, gordon ramsay, jamie oliver and heston blumenthal all getting in on the act, also some recipes on this page go channel 4! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 462,000 signed up to the petition now ! and it appears to be increasing at something like 20 per min when I last looked Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 512,000 just now 16.07 17th Jan. Crackling support anyone put this on twitter or facebook yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
great white Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Did anyone see the one last night on the sharks? What a bloody criminal shame I could not believe the sight of all those small shark fins lined up drying. Or the sight of a big shark being mutilated, so that some far eastern person could eat it and think he was upper class. I tasted it once in Hong Kong before I realised that it takes one fin to make a bowl. When I found that out I swore I would never eat it again. I agree with Gordon Ramsey its not that good anyway. For the price of the soup you could get a decent meal in another restaurant. My advice, do exactly that and boycott any restaurant that serves it. Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niggle Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I agree 100% Charlie,it was sickening Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 second that!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wedger Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Posting this for codpiece reply from Princes on sustainability Thank you for contacting us recently and voicing your concern. Princes has > a serious and genuine commitment to improving sustainability within the > tuna fishing industry and your feedback on this important issue is > welcome. > > We would like to provide you with a response to your email and additional > information about our latest activity and progress in relation to > sustainability. This progress is being made alongside our high standards > relating to food safety, traceability and quality. > > Although Princes does not own or operate any fishing boats, we acknowledge > that all fishing methods result in some level of by-catch and we therefore > support the need to develop and implement ways of mitigating the impact of > commercial fishing on non-target species. > > Our view, which is shared by a large section of the scientific community, > other environmental non-governmental organisations and the majority of the > international canned tuna industry, is that a joined-up approach is > required to bring about long-term improved sustainability across all > global tuna catch areas. > > Consistent with this view, Princes is a co-founder of The International > Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF), and we fully support the > conservation initiatives of this organisation as part of our long-term > commitment to improving industry best practice. > > The ISSF is a global partnership among leaders in science, the tuna > industry and WWF, the world's leading conservation organisation. The ISSF > undertakes science-based initiatives for the long-term conservation and > sustainable use of tuna stocks, reducing by-catch and promoting ecosystem > health. These initiatives currently include a globally coordinated at-sea > research project to identify best practices, new techniques and enhanced > technologies that will allow fleets to minimise the amount of non-targeted > fish and other marine life captured as a result of fishing for tuna. This > research is being shared with crew members through workshops hosted in > communities around the world. Long-line, gill and drift net fishing > methods are not permitted in our specifications and we will not trade with > companies or vessels that have not banned the practise known as shark > finning. Princes recognises concerns over fish aggregation devices (FADs) > and supports the need to minimise the by-catch associated with their use. > We also support measures which seek to reduce operational waste, discards, > and abandoned or lost fishing gear. > > As you will know, Greenpeace is currently campaigning to encourage UK tuna > retailers and brands to source tuna caught using the pole and line fishing > method. Although Princes does source some tuna caught using pole and line, > this method also results in some level of by-catch of non target species. > There is also the consideration that this method requires the use of bait > fish. These bait fish are caught close to shore and used at sea to attract > tuna shoals to fishing boats. Studies suggest that 1kg of bait fish (which > could be considered a form of by-catch) is required to catch 10kg's of > tuna. The ISSF's science committee is currently researching the ability of > bait fisheries to supply pole and line tuna fisheries and the fuel > consumption of all vessel gear types used to fish for tuna. > > On this point, Greenpeace has acknowledged to us in writing that that the > expansion of pole and line fishing for tuna could have negative > consequences for marine sustainability and stated that "pole can only ever > account for a fraction of the global market and that if pushed too far, > pole and line could itself become unsustainable." > > In addition to the points already mentioned, Princes has also taken a > number of other key actions and commitments on seafood sustainability, > including: > > a.) Supporting the principle of using scientifically-based protective > closed ocean areas, including no-take marine reserves, to accomplish clear > conservation objectives for fish populations and the ecosystems upon which > they depend. > b.) The development of new supply partnerships with pole and line and > purse seine fisheries that do not use fish aggregation devices (FADs). > c.) A recent commitment to declare species on Princes-brand tuna labels - > the new labels will be introduced during 2011. > d.) Through our own tuna processing facility in Mauritius, Princes has > financially supported a feasibility study for the realisation of a marine > protected area (MPA) in the lagoon along the South West coast of > Mauritius. Turning the lagoon into an MPA requires encouraging fishermen > to go fishing outside the lagoon. The feasibility study is being conducted > by the MMCS (Mauritius Marine Conservation Society) and will be completed > by the end of January or early February. Our manufacturing facility in > Mauritius has also supported the building and equipping of a new type of > fishing craft, suitable for artisanal fisheries outside the lagoon. > > Finally, our updated Wild Caught Seafood Sustainability Statement, which > details these and other commitments, is available to download from our > website at: > > http://www.princes.co.uk/downloads/Princes...ment_175220.pdf > > I hope that this is a useful update in response to your enquiry. > Yours sincerely, > > Customer Care Team Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuie Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 The link makes interesting reading, no mention of accidental by-catches when Princes mackerel and sardines are caught by trawlers etc - and their corporate responsibility (CR)statement referred to appears not to exist when I try to find it - perhaps it's my age.. Stuart Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codpiece Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Hi Stui, Could not agree more having said that at least they spoke to me, i know it wll be a standard reply to all but at least they sent it quite a rarity. Derek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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