BEGINS
Amsterdam, 25 May 2016 -- Global brands, including
McDonald’s, Tesco, Iglo, Young’s Seafood, Icelandic Seachill, alongside the
Norwegian Fishing Vessel Owners Association, Fiskebåt, Russian fishing giant,
Karat and Europe’s largest processor of frozen fish, Espersen, have today said
“no” to the further expansion of cod fishing into the previously-frozen Northern
Barents Sea — an area twice the size of France. [1]
The ground-breaking agreement brokered by Greenpeace marks the first time
the seafood industry has voluntarily imposed limitations to industrial fishing
in the Arctic. This means that any fishing companies expanding into pristine
Arctic waters will not be able to sell their cod to major seafood brands and
retailers.
Currently there is no specific legal regime in place to protect Arctic
areas that were previously covered by sea ice. The challenge is now on the
industry to properly implement this new commitment, and ensure their products
are not linked to Arctic destruction.
Commenting on the statement, Greenpeace campaigner Frida Bengtsson
said:
“Today, McDonald’s, Espersen, Young’s Seafood, and Iglo, Findus & Birds
Eye and many more have taken action together with the Norwegian fishing industry
to safeguard a huge marine area in the Arctic. In the absence of significant
legal protection of the icy waters of the northern Barents Sea, this is an
unprecedented step from the seafood industry.
In March, Greenpeace investigations revealed how the melting Arctic sea ice
has made it possible for large, bottom trawlers to venture into previously
ice-covered ‘ecologically significant’ areas. [2] The report exposed how global,
well-known food brands and retailers buying cod from the Barents Sea risked
having their supply chain tainted with Arctic destruction
The region, which includes the Svalbard archipelago, also known as the
‘Arctic Galapagos’, is home to vulnerable animals including the polar bear,
bowhead whale and Greenland shark. At least 70% of all the Atlantic cod that
ends up on dinner plates around the world is from the Barents Sea as such.
“This voluntary and unprecedented move by the seafood industry highlights
the lack of political ambition so far to protect the Arctic. Now it’s up to the
Norwegian government to catch up with the companies and protect the Arctic for
the long term”, said Frida Bengtsson.
Greenpeace is calling on the Norwegian government to protect this truly
unique and vulnerable area in the Norwegian Arctic waters and acknowledge the
growing resistance to reckless exploitation of the fragile Arctic environment,
not only from millions of individual people but also from the corporate world.
[3]
The statement from the fishing industry comes weeks after Arctic sea ice
hit a record low maximum extent for winter. With the extreme loss of sea ice,
large areas of water are left open for longer periods and the need for legal
protection to replace the protective ice-shield is urgent.
The challenge for these companies is now to deliver on their commitment to
Arctic protection and show real results out on the water. The world’s eyes are
on the Arctic. This summer, the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise will go to the
Arctic to keep watch over the areas now off limits to ensure that the fishing
industry meets these commitments.
ENDS
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Notes to editors
[3] Norway is internationally obliged through the UN Convention on
Biological Diversity to protect at least 10 % of its marine areas by 2020, but
is falling drastically short with less than 1 % protected so far. As part of an
ongoing political process, on 23rd May the Norwegian parliament asked the
Norwegian government to come up with a plane for marine
protection.