A new Oceana poll reveals that 84% of citizens from Belgium, France, Spain and Cyprus demand more information on processed seafood
A new Oceana poll has found that 84% of consumers in Belgium, France, Spain, and Cyprus want greater transparency and information about processed seafood, including products like canned tuna, fish fingers, and surimi.
While regulations for fresh and frozen seafood provide clear information on species, origin, and fishing methods, consumers are left in the dark about these details when purchasing processed seafood products or ordering seafood in restaurants.
According to the poll, 82.5% of respondents said knowing the origin of their seafood is important, while 87% want to know more about the species used in processed products. Furthermore, 82% of consumers would like information about the fishing gear used to catch the seafood. This would help consumers make more informed, sustainable choices and avoid products linked to overfishing, illegal activities, or unsustainable practices.
Vanya Vulperhorst, Oceana’s Director of Illegal Fishing and Transparency in Europe, stressed the importance of this issue: “Consumers have spoken, and the numbers show that they want to know more about the fish they eat. Understanding the origin, species, and catch method is crucial for making informed choices.”
Oceana is urging Costas Kadis, the EU Commissioner-designate for Fisheries and Oceans, to address this lack of information. The organisation is calling for changes to the EU’s Common Market Organisation (CMO) Regulation, which governs seafood consumer information, to:
- Include processed seafood products under the regulation, requiring information such as species, origin, and fishing gear for all products.
- Display science-based sustainability data on all seafood products.
- Extend the scope to cover the food service sector, requiring hotels, restaurants, and caterers to provide similar information.
The Oceana report released last month found that for nearly 40% of processed seafood products analysed in Belgium, France, and Spain, key details such as species and fishing gear were missing. This lack of transparency hinders consumers from making sustainable choices.
The push for greater transparency comes at a critical time for global fisheries, with consumers increasingly concerned about overfishing and its environmental impacts. 79% of those surveyed want information on whether the fish they consume is overexploited, while 81% are keen to know the environmental effects of fishing methods used.
Oceana’s new initiative, “Follow the Fish,” aims to address these gaps in information and empower consumers with the knowledge they need to make responsible choices when purchasing seafood.
Source: Press Release