Policies

Here are some of our key policy statements and positions related to seafood sustainability and Fish for Life.

The Common Fisheries Policy - our view

Young’s Seafood – and its parent, Findus Group – supports fundamental reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and believes that change is essential to achieving long term sustainability in European fisheries. Driven by our Fish for Life approach, we have been actively lobbying for improvement for a number of years and have joined forces with AIPCE, WWF and others to support calls for a new system to replace the CFP.

In our view, certain regulatory aspects of the Common Fisheries Policy are an obstacle to proper fisheries management. Discards in the EU are a major issue and a direct consequence of regulatory failings within the CFP which allow poor species selectivity in fishing gear technology. The fact that the current quota rules also prevent fishermen from properly recording and landing all the fish they catch is also a major barrier to solving discards issue.

Much of the fish sold in Europe, including much that we sell, come from large sustainable fisheries where discarding is already either banned or at minimal levels such as Norway, Iceland and the USA. However, as a processor our greatest influence is with consumers and the marketplace and we have long advocated species diversification and have successfully introduced new species in the past such as Alaska pollock. We will continue to urge consumers to be even more open minded and less species conservative so we can utilise more of the currently discarded European species.

1. In alliance with our industry partners we have already expressed support for the following key aspects of regulatory reform:

2. Introduction of long term management plans – founded on science, ecosystem-based fisheries plans would set fisheries management on a stable track to recovery and provide for a more sustainable future for stakeholders and the environment;

3. Regionalisation – devolving responsibility for fisheries management to stakeholders at the regional fishery level;

4. Scope – reformed CFP principles should apply to all fisheries in EU waters, and to European vessels wherever they fish in the world.

5. Maximising value from catch to consumer – a requirement for improved connections and integrated policies across the supply chain, with a clear focus on efficiency and added value at all stages.

Building on this platform, we look forward to a radical overhaul of the Common Fisheries Policy and a better system of governance to enable everyone involved in fishing – from legislators to fishermen – to jointly achieve a more selective industry that can remain viable, profitable and sustainable for the long term.