Big British seafood brands linked to fishing in fragile Arctic

An investigation by Greenpeace has warned that major British food brands and supermarkets buying cod from Arctic waters risk having their supply chain “tainted” because of links with fishing further north in the Arctic. The study revealed that suppliers of cod to Birds Eye, Findus and Young’s are using controversial giant bottom trawlers in the northern Barents Sea around Svalbard, an area deemed by scientists to be ecologically significant. At least 70% of all the Atlantic cod that ends up in supermarkets around the world is from the Barents Sea, but Greenpeace said its evidence of fishing further north - while not illegal - could damage fragile ecosystems. Importantly, it would also undermine commitments to sustainable fishing practices, which is designed to reassure consumers and prominently displayed on packaging and labelling.

Major British food brands and supermarkets buying cod from Arctic waters risk having their supply chain “tainted” because of links with fishing further north in the Arctic, Greenpeace has warned.



An investigation by the group has revealed that suppliers of cod to Birds Eye, Findus and Young’s are using controversial giant bottom trawlers in the northern Barents Sea around Svalbard, an area deemed by scientists to be ecologically significant.

At least 70% of all the Atlantic cod that ends up in supermarkets around the world is from the Barents Sea, but Greenpeace said its evidence of fishing further north - while not illegal - could damage fragile ecosystems. Importantly, it would also undermine commitments to sustainable fishing practices designed to reassure consumers and prominent on packaging and labelling.

Greenpeace researchers used satellite data and field work to track an increasing number of bottom trawlers - often dubbed giant “bulldozers” - operating in the northern Barents Sea. The region, which includes the Svalbard archipelago, is home to vulnerable species including the polar bear, bowhead whale and Greenland shark.



“Climate change is opening up whole areas of the Arctic for the very first time,” said Greenpeace campaigner Trillia Fidei. “Some companies see this as a business opportunity, but we think it’s a chance to protect a fragile ecosystem before it’s too late. We cannot destroy a marine environment that we don’t even understand.

“Some of the world’s biggest seafood brands are unwittingly buying cod from this vulnerable area. We’re asking them to get tough with their suppliers to ensure the northern part of the Barents Sea is off limits to giant fishing bottom trawlers.”

Experts consider bottom trawling to be a highly destructive fishing method, which is already responsible for damaging up to half of Norway’s cold water corals reefs.

Marine conservation biologist Prof Callum Roberts said: “Over the last 200 years it has converted once rich and complex seabed habitats to endless expanses of shifting sands and mud. Areas of the Arctic protected by sea ice represent one of the last pristine refuges from trawling and need urgent protection to prevent them from suffering the same fate.”

Greenpeace is calling on fishing companies to stop fishing in the northern Barents Sea and the waters around Svalbard, and for retailers, food brands and processors to sever links with suppliers that engage in destructive fishing in this region. It is also urging the Norwegian government to create a marine protected area there.

A statement issued on behalf of frozen fish brands Birds Eye, iglo and Findus - all part of the same group - said the investigation raised important issues which would be explored further.

“We pride ourselves in having taken leadership in driving long-term sustainability within fisheries over the last 20 years. All our brands use cod and haddock from a variety of responsibly managed fisheries. All fish from the Barents Sea, like all the white fish we source, is MSC-certified.

“The MSC certification of the Barents Sea cod and haddock fishery means that this is managed according to a set of internationally agreed responsible fisheries management principles. These take into account the fishery stock status and the impact on the ecosystem.

“The Greenpeace report raises important issues and we will examine this very carefully with regulators, industry experts and NGO partners.”

Black legged kittiwakes perch on an iceberg in Hornsund, south-west Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Photograph: Nick Cobbing/Greenpeace

The trade body Seafish, which represents the UK’s fish and chip shops - also supplied by fish from the area - said the Barents Sea was one of the most well-managed regions in the world.

Seafish technical director Tom Pickerell said: “We are already working with some key suppliers to provide them with further scientific data on this issue and inform their understanding of the extent of the sea ice and fishing grounds in the north Barents Sea and any trends in northward migration of fish.

“Our analysis of the fishing data found that there is very little fishing activity happening in this region apart from a small area to the north-east of Svalbard as the fish (which define any fishery) do not appear to be expanding their range northwards at the present time. However, this means there is an opportunity to develop protective measures to ensure there is environmental management in place for the future.”