Author Topic: Hugh's Fishfight (Read 3193 times)

Hardfeather · « **on:** January 13, 2011, 10:47:15 pm »

Ha ha I'm back from a computer breakdown

. Happy new year to all.

I've just been watching HF-W's efforts to bring the wanton discarding of non-desirable fish to our attention, and his challenge on Tesco with regard to their awful record of environmental destruction in the name of supplying us all with tuna fish. Fair play to him, he told it like it is and seems to have forced Tesco to face up to their responsibilities to those non-target species which are casually termed 'bi-catch'. Sharks, stripped of their fins and tossed overboard to die; dolphins and turtles drowned in purse-seine nets...

...and all the time the beaurocrats in Brussels and Wasteminster do feck all to prevent the seas and oceans becoming deserts.

There is a petition to sign at www.fishfight.net

Meanwhile, I'm thinking about how a humble bod like me can let the behemoth which is Tesco know that I don't like what they're doing, and that they must change their ways. For starters, I thought I might do my bit of shopping there as usual but, each time I am in, I should take half a dozen tins of tuna to the checkout as if to purchase them, then, after taking time to check the labels on each tin, politely inform the checkout bod that I have changed my mind about purchasing their tuna as it is not environmentally friendly, despite what the label states.

If I could persuade lots of people to do the same, I would run less risk of being banned from their premises and there would be the daily burden of returning the 'discarded' tins of tuna to the sales shelf to keep the staff occupied. This would focus their minds on the matter, and would cause some minor disruption which may just come to the attention of the managers. With enough support, it may even filter upwards and reach the policy-makers.

The biggest risk, I fear, would be pissing off any fellow shoppers who had the misfortune to find themselves behind me in the queue.

Any other/better ideas?

northfifeduckling · « **Reply #1 on:** January 13, 2011, 10:59:05 pm »

I'll just change my shopping habits a bit. Our youngest watched and said "I'll happily eat Salmon only once a year from now". Great. We are big fans of Mackerel and Hering anyway and we hardly ever eat Tuna. Will make sure I'll get some from Mauritius for the larder when I pass a Sainsbury once a year...
I must say I was utterly shocked at the amount of waste - how can anyone cook something like this up - and all in the name of conservation?? They are bloody dead when they get thrown back!!!

WinslowPorker · « **Reply #2 on:** January 14, 2011, 08:22:39 am »

Totally agree from now on we will only be buying Sainsbury Tuna, however the reality of the situation is in tough economic times and feeding a family of five we are always drawn to the 'best deal'. however on this one we are all in agreement that eating less tuna which has been responibly caught is the best way.

we also love mackerel, sardines etc however being 7 miles from the furthest inland point in UK we always struggle to find a good quality fishmonger that stocks all of the 'non-standard/consumer' fish. I am fiortunate that the father in law lives in SOuth Shields, which is great not only because he is over 250 miles away

, but because when i go up there he takes us to the fish Quay where the trawlers come in and you buy some absolutley fantastic fish, always have coolbox full to bring back home.

And rest assured having just booked our holiday to Cornwall this year the kids and I will be out fishing at least once and hopefully having large fishy BBQ's by the tent. Mackerel & hopefully a couple of pilchards (yes id did catch a swimming pilchard from Looe once, and believ it or not it wasnt in a can of tomato sauce!!) Mind you they dont have make the BBQ fire up!! and then of course we have 2 salivating dogs who are on hand to chomp through our bumper catch!!

and yes i have joined the fishfight, along with my wife and Jessicas Jams!

HappyHippy · « **Reply #3 on:** January 14, 2011, 09:06:39 am »

I too, have signed up

I was gobsmacked that Tesco put such bold claims on their cans WITHOUT actually living up to those claims ! Interestingly I went into a Tesco yesterday to check the cans - the cheaper stuff is 45p a can (or thereabouts) complete with dolphin friendly logo and claims about protecting marine life but their pole and line caught stuff was £3.99 ! for a can only slightly bigger

Tesco stand to make quite a profit from Hugh's campaign

I've forwarded the link to everyone I know.
Karen x

Frieslandfilly · « **Reply #4 on:** January 14, 2011, 11:35:12 am »

I have been watching this too, outrage and heartbreak is what I have been feeling, what a shocking waste of fish, a typical example of bureaucracy gone mad! We have the same problem as Winslowporker in that we are just about as far from the sea as you can get and therefore it is difficult to get fresh fish, I always watch Hugh's programmes with envy when he is out fishing on the beach!!

Helencus · « **Reply #5 on:** January 14, 2011, 02:06:48 pm »

Signed up thanks for highlighting this

sausagesandcash · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2011, 11:56:35 am »

Signed...and passed on to my mates by email.

morri2 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2011, 05:23:36 pm »

No problems signing this - absolutely disgusting....glad I'm vegetarian though!

egglady · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2011, 05:29:34 pm »

much the same comments as everyone else! horrendous and shocking.

fish fight campaign has over 400,000 sign ups already - we all can be the ''difference that makes the difference...

Norfolk Newby · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2011, 02:42:23 pm »

I am fairly sure I agree with everyone here that the fishing business - both around the dear old UK and further afield - is a big mess.

Fishing is an historic industry but it has produced deserts in the past (North Sea, Grand Banks, etc.) and there needs to be some form of control.

I moved house recently to be closer to the sea in order to take advantage of locally caught fish which is relatively cheap, fresh and delicious. These three factors are linked. The fish goes from the sea to my plate by the shortest route. It doesn't have time to deteriorate, cost a fortune to transport and 'process' so doesn't cost much more than the fisherman expects to get to run his business.

I wish the fishing process was less like hunting wild animals and a bit more selective. Also, could clean/fillet the fish while it's really fresh (on the boat) then preserve it by freezing or similar immediately and deliver it to me in the same state - probably still frozen.

All this should be feasible without requiring robots or little green men.

Meanwhile, well run fish farms look similar to the farming that takes place round here. Animals get born, raised and slaughtered in a humane fashion with the minimum of stress for the creatures. The resulting meat is available to the customer at well managed shops where I can buy clean delicious food for a reasonable price. If I want something good I go to a specialist butcher but otherwise the stuff in the supermarket can usually be trusted, is also good to eat and won't give me the colliwobbles provided I don't leave it in the fridge to a month.

So why do fish have to be different?

Regarding the stuff currently available, I don't want fish from exotic lands unless it offers something I can't get locally. I do want it really fresh. I can't emphasize enough the difference that makes. I would prefer if it was caught by British fishermen but accept some of it may come from Iceland where they had the foresight to ban other fishermen and manage their local stocks more carefully than anyone else. At the time, the Cod War looked like a small selfish country trying to take over the world but my thinking has changed a bit over the years. We were probably sold a one sided view of what was happening and Iceland isn't a major world power anyway.

In judging the current campaign, I look for the money. Who is getting rich out of the current situation? It isn't the fishermen. I doubt it is the Brussels bureaucrats or or politicians (although both groups seem to promote very strange arguments as to why the status quo has to remain, which makes me wonder).

So who is motivated to sell stale dubious quality fish from poorly managed stocks, possible on the far side of the world? I won't answer this as I don't want trouble. I leave you to guess. However, a bit like our banks claiming to be the best in the world (hah!) I am disappointed at the role of both our government and the big food sellers (supermarkets plus major processors) not doing more to maintain a good standard of quality.

So, rant over. I hope I have added to the thread with these thoughts and leave you to add yours.