 Q: What’s all the fuss about? Most of my guests don’t seem interested in sustainability.
A: They may not ask questions, but they still have similar concerns. Research shows that today’s consumer has a great deal of trust that their suppliers of food (retail and foodservice) are doing the right things for them. In fact, when eating out, 55% of consumers expect their fish to be sustainable. Your guests are often therefore leaving that responsibility to you.
Q: Shouldn’t we just stop eating fish?
A: Leading environmental campaigners such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recognise that removing fish from the menu will only drive prices down, forcing fishermen to catch more fish to make a living.
There is no easy solution. Our challenge - fishermen to markets to suppliers to chefs to consumers – is to make the best informed decisions each and every day.
Q: Why do you air-freight fish?
A: While we will continue to support the British fishing industry by championing responsible fishing and under-utilised species, the UK catch alone isn’t enough to meet today’s needs while protecting tomorrow’s. Supplementing the UK catch with the best from the rest of the world eases pressure on stocks. Whilst there is the question of food-miles, we believe the priority is to preserve stocks, and if that requires using space on passenger flights, that is our choice.
Q: Is Cod an endangered species?
A: No. All M&J Cod is sourced legally and within quotas. Our North Sea Cod is from the Cod Management Recovery Plan quota. M&J Seafood offers the widest range of sustainably certified Cod in the UK, from Organically Reared Atlantic Cod to MSC-certified Pacific Cod, as well as actively promoting sustainable alternatives such as Pollack, Whiting, Hake, Coley and Pangasius.
Q: Should we be eating Tuna?
A: We definitely shouldn’t be eating Bluefin Tuna, which is why M&J won’t supply it. We do however supply line-caught Yellowifn Tuna from the Maldives and Sri Lanka and Cornish Albacore Tuna, both of which are well-managed.
Q: If I buy all my fish from M&J, can I state that it’s sustainable?
A: Providing you only buy species on our recommended list, we would encourage you to add this statement to your menu:
“We source our fish from M&J Seafood, who are committed to responsible sourcing and supply of the best of the world’s catch from well-managed and sustainable fisheries”.
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