Greenpeace demands UK shops sell pole-and-line-caught tuna
Greenpeace calls on UK chains to copy Pret A Manger and only sell pole-and-line-caught tuna in sandwiches
12 June 2009
GREENPEACE has called on UK stores to follow the lead of Pret A Manger and allow only pole-and-line-caught tuna to be sold in sandwiches.
Pret became the first chain to ban net-caught fish in its stores this week after owner Julian Metcalfe watched The End of the Line, a documentary about overfishing.
Marks & Spencer, which sells 20,000 tuna sandwiches a week, followed suit by promising to sell only sustainably sourced fish.
And today Greenpeace demanded other sandwich chains switch to solely pole-and-line-caught tuna.
It says the endangered bluefin species is often caught up in nets by fishermen trying to catch the plentiful skipjack tuna.
Spokesman Willie Mackenzie said: “Unless companies are serving only pole-and-line-caught tuna in their sandwiches then they are not in the same league as Pret and M&S. They are using the word ‘sustainable’ generously.
“Millions of sharks are killed in nets used to catch tuna every year. Turtles are killed and other endangered species affected.”
Other high-street chains contacted by thelondonpaper – including Starbucks, Subway and Eat – have so far refused to confirm if their tuna is line-caught.
Celebrities including Elle Macpherson and Stephen Fry are boycotting Mayfair restaurant Nobu after it refused to stop using bluefin tuna in sushi - even though it advises its diners not to order it.
Will you boycott shops and restaurants if they refuse to stop selling bluefin tuna or tuna caught in nets? Leave your comments below...
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