Youngs Seafood Supports Move to Tackle Discards

Youngs Seafood Limited has campaigned for a number of years on discards and supports sustainable practice in fisheries through its Fish for Life programme on responsible sourcing.

Pete Ward, Chief Operating Officer of Youngs Seafood Limited, stated: We have long held the view that the practice of discarding fish at sea is both a senseless waste of resource and a barrier to sustainability in fisheries. We are actively engaged with scientists, fishery managers and fishermen in joint initiatives to better understand and reduce discarding. Following our recent meeting, we plan to continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and other key stakeholders to keep up the momentum on this issue.

Leendert den Hollander, Chief Executive of Youngs Seafood Limited, added: Moving discards up the policy agenda is very important. Well-managed eco-systems are clearly critical to ensuring we have bountiful sources of fish, healthy people and healthy societies. Were doing our bit through our Fish for Life initiative on responsible sourcing and by encouraging people to try a wider variety of fish. We hope that consumers, retailers and the supply chain continue to support sustainable practice in fisheries and fish farms.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said: Throwing marketable fish back in to the sea dead is economic and ecological madness. Flawed European fisheries policy has imposed discards on fishermen and we need effective and enforceable measures to end this wasteful practice. Im pleased therefore that Youngs Seafood has reaffirmed its opposition to discarding and recognise that discard-free fisheries are in everyones interest: suppliers, consumers and the fishermen themselves.

Following Youngs Seafoods reiteration of its support for moves to tackle discards, Mike Mitchell, Youngs Seafood Limiteds Director of Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility, will give a keynote address at the World Fisheries Congress. This prestigious event is organised by The World Council of Fisheries Societies, which promotes international cooperation in fisheries science, conservation and management.