Welcoming Channel 4's Fish Fight

Leendert den Hollander, managing director of Findus UK and Young's says:

"As the UK's largest buyer of fish we welcome the current media scrutiny of the industry, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to Findus Group. 

It is only through a transparent discussion based on the scientific evidence that we can ensure best practice. As an ongoing source of good quality protein, fish has an essential part to play in the healthy diet of the UK consumer. The long term sustainability of the supply of fish is central to our business and we have been practical innovators in terms of our buying policies and in the way we work with our suppliers to drive positive change."

Fish for Life - proactively driving improvement through the industry

Young's (part of the Findus Group), which has been supplying fish and seafood for over 200 years, has developed practical and positive steps through its Fish for Life programme. Fish for Life is our own policy and governs all the species bought by the Findus Group, whether wild-caught or farmed. Every purchasing decision is made with a clear understanding of the capacity of the environment to support the fishing or fish farming effort involved. We are also aligned to the objectives of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) which relate to wild caught fish. As we are a major purchaser of seafood from most of the world's principal fisheries, we will continue (though our international network of suppliers) to initiate, support and stimulate any projects, policies and actions that contribute towards long term sustainability. This policy of engagement drives improvement and best practice through the industry. The Fish for Life approach is founded on Ten Principles for Responsible Fish Procurement - the rules which govern all our sourcing decisions. Our products clearly show the Fish for Life logo to help consumers choose sustainable fish.

Discards - love fish, hate waste

We oppose discarding (disposing of fish at sea) and believe the practice is unacceptable. Discards are both a senseless waste of resources and a barrier to long term sustainability in fisheries. Just as our consumers hate to waste food, we hate the wasteful practice of discarding fish. The system must be reformed as throwing away fish, is clearly wrong. We have campaigned against discards for many years and believe that the process of reform must be speeded up because, for all of Europe's fisheries to become sustainable, all fish caught must be landed and properly recorded - and this cannot be achieved whilst discarding continues. Any time wasted will result in more fish being wasted. Action must be taken now to end this wasteful practice.