Sainsburys Supports Sustainability Plan for Inshore Fleet

In a world first, Project Inshore, led by Seafish, the industry authority, will for the first time map all of these fisheries together and provide sustainability plans for each of them, helping to secure seafood supplies from these traditional boats for this and future generations.

The new project will use assessments based on the Marine Stewardship Council Standard for sustainable fishing to produce tailored sustainability reports for every fishery around the English coast - around 7,000 boats. These will provide a roadmap that highlights best practice and provides an independent evidence base to attract targeted investment in further scientific research.

Ally Dingwall, Aquaculture & Fisheries Manager, Sainsbury's says: "Locally caught British fish from inshore boats are the backbone of Sainsbury's fish counters, so it's important that these fisheries are well managed to ensure sustainable supplies for the future. By 2020 all of the fish we sell will be independently certified as sustainable and Project Inshore is an effective way of providing English inshore fisheries with both long term management plans and the opportunity to move forward into MSC assessment.

"Sustainable fisheries are essential if the world is to retain its primary renewable source of protein and protecting the integrity of marine ecosystems remains one of the major challenges. With this project we can join forces and not only understand the state of the fisheries but ensure stocks are being managed effectively."