Call for investigation into scampi marketing

A leading British marine conservation organisation today called for an investigation into the way scampi are described and marketed.

Open Seas has complained to the UK Competition and Markets Authority about the way supermarkets describe this popular British seafood product, regardless of whether it is caught or farmed.

Many supermarkets claim that the scampi are responsibly sourced, but Open Seas considers this to be misleading – an accusation that the retailers strongly deny.

The charity has been campaigning against scampi fishing for some time, arguing that the majority of British consumers – around 80% – are unaware that scampi is made from langoustines. The shellfish are caught using extremely damaging fishing methods, the organisation says, particularly bottom trawling, which produces a high proportion of bycatch per kilo of langoustines caught.

Open Seas also claims that there have been cases of exploited migrant labour in the British fishing fleet.

Nick Underdown, campaign director at Open Seas, said: “Catching large numbers of juvenile fish against scientific advice is irresponsible. Trawling in sensitive marine habitats is irresponsible. Increasing the risk of forced labour and human trafficking within the scampi supply chain is irresponsible.”

“Companies that do not address these problems are not to blame. The way scampi are produced has all the hallmarks of irresponsible fishing.”

“We have raised these concerns with the supermarkets, but they continue to sell the scampi as ‘responsibly produced’.”

He continued: “Language matters and the term ‘responsibly sourced’ is used repeatedly on packaging to create an impression of responsibility while glossing over the many environmental and human rights issues associated with scampi.

The British Retail Consortium said retailers were committed to sourcing scampi responsibly and would work closely with stakeholders and suppliers to ensure products met customers’ sustainability expectations.

Several British supermarkets and scampi producers such as Young’s and Whitby Seafoods told the BBC today that they are active in several seafood sustainability organisations, including the Marine Stewardship Council.