local and sustainable seafood
A bit of back ground…
For many years, the number of fishing vessels and employment in the UK fishing industry has been in decline. Reduced quotas and rising fuel prices continue to challenge the future of the industry and there is a growing demand from customers for seafood from sustainable sources.
The South East boasts 26 landing points, ranging from a port with landing and fuel facilities to just a beach launch. The majority of these ports land their catch from day boats or ‘under 10 metre’ boats with 29% of all UK day boats being found in the South East. Day boats fish mainly within a 12 mile limit along our coast. This means that if the weather is bad, it is very difficult for them to go out and supply fresh seafood to the market and shops.
Many of the fishing communities are kept together by associations and societies. These provide facilities for fishermen such as fuel provision, ice to keep the fish fresh on board, chillers and market premises for wholesale and retail. Many of the fishermen are also heavily involved in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).
Sustainability and Responsibility
The fishing industry is part of the social, economic and environmental fabric of our lives in the region. We all eat fish and know that freshness comes first. But it is important to catch and consume sustainable seafood. Fishermen across the region are becoming more and more aware of sustainability: the introduction by Selsey fishermen of escape hatches on lobster pots enabling undersized lobsters to escape and areas on the seabed that are being avoided during the breeding/spawning season are examples of the latest projects to protect stocks.
In 2007 Seafish introduced the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS). The scheme represents a way for consumers to enjoy their favourite seafood dish comfortable in the knowledge that not only is the produce of the highest quality, but also that the fishing vessel which landed the catch operates according to strict guidelines, minimising its impact on the environment. The Responsible Fishing Scheme was developed to raise standards in the catching sector. The aim is that over time it will become a condition of supply. In the South East we are working with the fishing sector to get as many boats signed up to RFS as possible.
As consumers we can help by choosing more sustainable fish varieties; species that are in plentiful supply and in season. When you buy fresh fish ask your fishmonger if the boat was part of the Responsible Fishing Scheme. For boats in the scheme visit:
www.rfs.seafish.org Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
The MSC is an independent, global, non-profit organization that promotes sustainable fishing practices. They have developed an environmental standard for sustainable and well-managed fisheries. This standard was put together following worldwide consultation with scientists, fisheries experts, environmental organisations and other people with a strong interest in preserving fish stocks for the future.
The MSC reward environmentally responsible fisheries management and practices with the distinctive blue tick product label of approval. The label will assure you that the product comes from a well managed fishery and has not contributed to the environmental problem of overfishing.
In the South East, many of the herring, mackerel and Dover sole landed in Hastings carry the blue MSC label. Other fisheries in the region are currently going through the audit procedures. In the south east, many fish are caught that are not MSC approved, however, this does not mean that they are from unsustainable stocks. Your fishmonger will be able to tell you were the fish has come from and reassure you.