Tesco

[Webmaster Eco Divers]

Hi Jim and Brian,

 

I did send them something, and here is what they replied:

 

---

I am sorry that you are unhappy with our decision to sell shark fins in our Thailand stores.

Please let me assure you that we appreciate your concerns about animal welfare and thank you for taking the time to bring your comments to our attention.

Like many other retailers in Thailand, Tesco sells shark fin in its stores as our customers expect to be able to buy it. We know that we need to balance different cultural attitudes, in this case respecting the different traditions and values on this issue that exist in Thailand with the very important issue of sustainability and welfare.

This is why we will conduct a review and take expert advice to ensure that we source shark in the most sustainable way possible.

I have fully logged your concerns and I can assure you that your own comments, along with any others we receive, will be duly noted.

Thank you for letting us know your views. If I can help further, please just let me know.

---

 

Best regards,

 

Peter

[Webmaster Eco Divers]

Hi Brian,

Sure: customer...@tesco.co.uk

Best regards,

Peter

----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian W Darvell" <hrd...@hkucc.hku.hk>
To: "Webmaster Eco Divers" <webm...@eco-divers.com>
Cc: <jim....@eco-divers.com>; "'Brian W. Darvell'" <b.w.d...@hku.hk>;
<respectpro...@googlegroups.com>; "'The Shark Group'"
<The_Sha...@googlegroups.com>; <enqu...@sharktrust.org>
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 5:03 PM
Subject: Re: Tesco

> Hi,
> Thanks for that - could we have the email address for that contact?
>
> Thanks,
>
> BWD

>
> Quoting Webmaster Eco Divers <webm...@eco-divers.com>:
>
>> Hi Jim and Brian,
>>
>> I did send them something, and here is what they replied:
>>
>>
>>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>>
>> I am sorry that you are unhappy with our decision to sell shark fins in
>> our
>> Thailand stores.
>>
>> Please let me assure you that we appreciate your concerns about animal
>> welfare and thank you for taking the time to bring your comments to our
>> attention.
>>
>> Like many other retailers in Thailand, Tesco sells shark fin in its
>> stores as
>> our customers expect to be able to buy it. We know that we need to
>> balance
>> different cultural attitudes, in this case respecting the different
>> traditions and values on this issue that exist in Thailand with the very
>> important issue of sustainability and welfare.
>>
>> This is why we will conduct a review and take expert advice to ensure
>> that we
>> source shark in the most sustainable way possible.
>>
>> I have fully logged your concerns and I can assure you that your own
>> comments, along with any others we receive, will be duly noted.
>>
>> Thank you for letting us know your views. If I can help further, please
>> just
>> let me know.
>>
>>
>>

> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Peter
>
>
>
>

[Brian W Darvell]

Hi,
Thanks for that - could we have the email address for that contact?

Thanks,

BWD

Quoting Webmaster Eco Divers <webm...@eco-divers.com>:

> Hi Jim and Brian,
>
> I did send them something, and here is what they replied:
>
>
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

>
> I am sorry that you are unhappy with our decision to sell shark fins in our
> Thailand stores.
>
> Please let me assure you that we appreciate your concerns about animal
> welfare and thank you for taking the time to bring your comments to our
> attention.
>
> Like many other retailers in Thailand, Tesco sells shark fin in its stores as
> our customers expect to be able to buy it. We know that we need to balance
> different cultural attitudes, in this case respecting the different
> traditions and values on this issue that exist in Thailand with the very
> important issue of sustainability and welfare.
>
> This is why we will conduct a review and take expert advice to ensure that we
> source shark in the most sustainable way possible.
>
> I have fully logged your concerns and I can assure you that your own
> comments, along with any others we receive, will be duly noted.
>
> Thank you for letting us know your views. If I can help further, please just
> let me know.
>
>
>

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Best regards,
>
> Peter

[Brian W. Darvell]

Thanks.

BWD

At 2008-10-20 23:21, Webmaster Eco Divers wrote:
====================================================

====================================================

[Brian W. Darvell]

Hi,
That is brilliant! Thanks for acting so swiftly (you have
saved me writing ...).

We all look forward to hearing the outcome of the
discussion, but of course if there is anything that any of us can do
to help, please let us know.

Thanks again,

BWD

At 2008-10-21 16:12, enqu...@sharktrust.org wrote:
====================================================
>Hi Brian
>
>We are aware that the news about Tesco's Thailand stores selling
>shark fin products has been doing the rounds. Although it now
>appears that this is not new news it is the first time it has been
>brought to the attention of the Shark Trust. Please find below
>details of the Trust's activities and the current position of Tesco.
>The Trust is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to brief
>Tesco in person and will seek what we feel is the only appropriate
>resolution: removal of shark fins from sale in all Tesco's outlets.
>
>Wednesday 8th October: Sales of shark fin products in Tesco's
>Thailand stores were brought to the attention of the Shark Trust
>early on Wednesday morning.
>
>Tesco's, the World's third largest store group, pride themselves in
>sustainable, responsible and ethical trading. The Shark Trust was
>quick to confront them with regards the justification of the sale of
>such an unsustainable product.
>
>Shark Trust Director of Conservation Ali Hood stated: "Sharks now
>rank amongst the most endangered species on the planet and the
>demand for shark fins is a major cause of the alarming decline in
>shark populations."
>
>She went on to state: "The Trust has asked Tesco to follow the
>example of Disney who withdrew Shark fin soup from the menu of their
>Hong Kong theme park."
>
>The Trust is now waiting on a response from Tesco who have
>recognised this as a matter of significant concern.
>
>Friday 10th October: In response to concerns raised by the Shark
>Trust, Tesco have released the following statement at lunchtime
>Friday 10th October:
>
>We do not stock shark or shark derived products in the UK in
>accordance with our UK Fish Sustainability Policy.
>
>We have become aware that such products are stocked in Tesco stores
>overseas, namely Thailand.
>
>We have communication from Board level to delist threatened species
>and that we must develop a sustainability strategy for the rest of
>global shark sales.
>
>As a consequence we would like to invite representatives from the
>Shark Trust to engage in dialogue on this matter.
>
>The Shark Trust has accepted Tesco's invitation to talk on this
>matter, whilst reiterating our request for immediate withdrawal of
>all shark fin products across their stores.
>
>Nicholas Steel
>Conservation Assistant
>----------------------------
>Conservation Team
>www.sharktrust.org
>
>Protect our sharks. Your chance is now!
>Sign the petition:
>www.sharktrust.org/petition
>
>European Shark Week:
>www.sharktrust.org/esw

====================================================

[Jim Yanny]

Hi Brian

 

 

Thanks for your very fast reply, much appreciated. We look forward to receiving the Shark Trust’s advice on a course of action to respond to this disappointing news.

 

Regards

 

Jim.

 

Jim Yanny

Managing Director

Eco Divers

PO Box 1618, Manado 95016

North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Tel: +62 431 826833 / 824445

Fax: +62 431 823444

Email: jim....@eco-divers.com

Web: www.eco-divers.com

 

At Kungkungan Bay Resort, Lembeh / Kima Bajo Resort, Manado

 

From: Brian W. Darvell [mailto:b.w.d...@hku.hk]
Sent: Monday, October 20, 2008 12:10 PM
To: jim....@eco-divers.com
Cc: respectpro...@googlegroups.com; The Shark Group; enqu...@sharktrust.org
Subject: Re: FW: :-(

 

Hi,
        Thanks for this, although it is very disappointing.  We'll see what we can do.  By copy of this I'll ask whether the Shark Trust in the UK has any thoughts on who to contact.

        Meanwhile, it never hurts for you to write directly to any relevant people.  Let me know what happens.

Thanks,

BWD

At 2008-10-20 11:49, you wrote:
====================================================

Hi Brian
 
 
See below, sent to me by our webmaster. Not sure what I can do with it, so thought of you and your amazing campaign that stopped shark fin soup being served at HK Disneyland. Maybe you're better connected, to know where to post details?
 
Thanks for any advice, yours sincerely
 
Jim Yanny
Managing Director
Eco Divers
PO Box 1618, Manado 95016
North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Tel: +62 431 826833 / 824445
Fax: +62 431 823444
Email: jim....@eco-divers.com
Web: www.eco-divers.com
 
At Kungkungan Bay Resort, Lembeh / Kima Bajo Resort, Manado
 
From: Peter Blumtritt [ mailto:p.blu...@t-online.de]
Sent: Sunday, October 19, 2008 3:00 AM
To: Andy Telford; Emperor Divers; Jim Yanny
Subject: :-(
 

Shark fin sales in Tesco Lotus Phuket

Oktober 10th, 2008

Sea Bees Diving has just received a mail from Mik, a dive instructor working here in Phuket, about shark fin sales in Tesco Lotus Phuket.

Yesterday I saw something that has spurred my normally (non tree-hugging, non-vegetarian) laid back attitude into life. 
These pictures were taken in Tesco Phuket on the 6th October 2008 and show 500g packets of Shark Fin freely available in the freezer cabinet. For anyone not from the UK, Tesco is the largest supermarket chain in the UK.


Shark fins sold in Tesco Lotus Phuket


Shark fins sold in Tesco Lotus Phuket / Thailand
Here's a quote from Tesco's website for you. "We are playing our part in seeking to maintain a viable and long-term future for wild fish and shellfish populations. We seek to buy all our seafood from responsibly managed fisheries. We use the United Nations' Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries as our sourcing reference."

====================================================

[Brian W. Darvell]

[Jim Yanny]

Hello

Likewise, we'd like to thank the Shark Trust for its swift and appropriate
action.

If there's anything we can do, please also let us know.

Regards

Jim Yanny
Managing Director
Eco Divers
PO Box 1618, Manado 95016
North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Tel: +62 431 826833 / 824445
Fax: +62 431 823444
Email: jim....@eco-divers.com
Web: www.eco-divers.com

At Kungkungan Bay Resort, Lembeh / Kima Bajo Resort, Manado

[enqu...@sharktrust.org]

Hi Brian

European Shark Week:
www.sharktrust.org/esw

-----Original Message-----
From: Brian W. Darvell [mailto:b.w.d...@hku.hk]

Sent: 21 Oct 2008 01:48
To: Webmaster Eco Divers

Cc: jim....@eco-divers.com; respectpro...@googlegroups.com; 'The
Shark Group'; enqu...@sharktrust.org

Subject: Re: Tesco

Thanks.

BWD