Sustainability Fish International: More companies introduce MSC/ organic products

"Fish international 2008 will provide a broad forum for the fair's key topic: the sustainability of fish and seafood. Experts from fish retailing, wholesaling, the grocery sector and industry will offer information on the latest developments in product origin control and show which concrete measures they take in reaction to increasing demand", said Hans Peter Schneider, the Managing Director of fair organisers MGH Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft Hansa GmbH.

The large-scale caterer ARAMARK which began procuring its fish products from sustainable fisheries in the spring of this year will be present at the Bremen fair. "It is evident that our guests are taking an increasing interest in this topic. In some cases this leads to constructive discussions. We take the feedback that we get from our guests very seriously and take it into account in our long-term strategy planning", says Christoph Wörner, the division manager for central buying at ARAMARK. He will be reporting on

his company's strategy for responsible management at the fish international Catering Forum.

In addition to organic fish and organic seafood the German market leader Deutsche See will be displaying delicatessen products from ecological aquaculture under their own deli label "BEECK". The organic fish range comprises species such as pangasius, cod and seabass.

Royal Greenland will not only exhibit innovations from the coldwater shrimp and halibut segments but also established products like fish fingers and various portions and fillets with toppings which are now offered on the basis of MSC certified Alaska pollack raw materials.

Stührk Delikatessen will display MSC wild salmon and organic smoked salmon products. The company is one of the suppliers whose wild salmon products are permitted to bear the MSC certificate. They had also begun co-operating with Naturland this year, said manager Lars Jochims, but it was still early days. The general sales target was to have as many products as possible certified.

"Whilst the fish industry and trade have partially reacted already to pressure from consumers and NGOs and have already attained certification or are currently involved in the process of certification independent fishmongers in Germany are now also starting to look more closely into this topic", said Marnie Bammert from the London-based Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

At fish international interested visitors will have the opportunity to visit the MSC stand to gain comprehensive information, for example on which criteria have to be met to obtain the certificate. The retail company Edekawill receive MSC certification at the trade fair.

Whilst the independent blue MSC label is only awarded to fisheries Naturland involves itself with controlled farming in aquaculture. Naturland will be present at fish international with various suppliers and will for the first time exhibit seabream and seabass from ecological aquaculture.

Fish international 2008 will take place in Halls 4 to 6 of the Bremen Exhibition Centre from Sunday 10 to Tuesday 12 February 2008 from 10:00 to 18:00. The organisers expect to welcome more than 400 exhibitors from over 40 nations to Bremen and 12.000 visitors.

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Further information:

MGH Messe- und Ausstellungsgesellschaft Hansa GmbH

Press Office, Jutta Never

Tel. +49 (0) 421 / 35 05 - 4 47, Fax +49 (0) 421 / 35 05 - 3 40

eMail: never@mgh-bremen.de , Internet: www.mgh-bremen.de