Woolworths Launches New MSC Certified Products

Four new Woolworths' Select products have been certified as coming from a sustainable fishery by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), and bear the blue MSC ecolabel. This brings the total number of MSC certified product lines available at Woolworths’ stores to 13.

To achieve MSC certification, fisheries must demonstrate - through a rigorous, independent assessment process – that the stocks being targeted are healthy, the fishing practices have minimal impact on the marine eco-system and overall the fishery is well managed.

Woolworths’ shoppers are now able to make a sustainable choice from crumbed fish fillets, garlic and herb crumbed fish fillets, lemon pepper crumbed fish fillets and tempura battered fish fillets.

Woolworths Private Label General Manager, Gordon Duncan, says: “Woolworths Select is about giving our customers affordable and high quality options when compared to the market-leading branded items. I’m proud that we are adding these products to the Select range - not only are they a sustainable choice but they also taste great.”

Patrick Caleo, Marine Stewardship Council Manager for Australia and New Zealand, says: “It is great to see Woolworths pursuing their commitment to sustainable seafood sourcing. In the last six months Woolworths has been very proactive in terms of increasing the number of MSC certified products on their shelves and, as a result, tens of thousands of Australian consumers have a much greater range of certified sustainable seafood choices available to them."

"Woolworths should be strongly commended for playing an important role in safeguarding seafood stocks for future generations,” Mr Caleo notes.

This latest development builds on Woolworths’ commitment to its Sustainable Fish Sourcing Strategy for wild caught fish, including the introduction of MSC certified canned Salmon and canned Albacore Tuna into the Woolworths Select range.

Woolworths has also recently shown its commitment to working with suppliers to achieve a more sustainable fish supply chain in Australia. The company recently awarding a Fresh Food Future grant of $25,000 to the Northern Prawn Fishery to help fund the costs associated with MSC assessment.

Pat McEntee, General Manager of Woolworths Fresh Food, said: “With the global consumption of fish at a record high it's important that, as a leading retailer, we invest in Australia's supply chain and help our suppliers to improve the sustainability of their operations."

“By awarding this grant to one of Australia's largest fisheries we are helping to ensure that future generations can enjoy all the fresh seafood this country has to offer,” said Mr McEntee.