Tesco joins Ocean Disclosure Project, divulges wild-catch sources

U.K. retail giant Tesco has joined the Ocean Disclosure Project (ODP), the global platform for the voluntary declaration of seafood sourcing, and has published two seafood disclosures listing the main wild-catch fisheries that it sourced from in 2017 and 2018.

The disclosures also contain information on fishery management, catch method, and environmental impact of those fisheries. 

In a statement, Tesco acknowledged that it has a crucial role in promoting healthy oceans and fish stocks, and preserving its resources for future generations. The retailer also said that transparency and collaboration are an important part of its approach, and by publicly disclosing where it sources its products, and the actions that its suppliers are taking to improve sustainability, it can help increase accountability and drive industry-wide progress.

“We want our customers to be able to enjoy sustainable and affordable fish now and long into the future, so we’re determined to play our part in protecting the world’s oceans and fish stocks. Publishing data as part of the Ocean Disclosure Project underlines our commitment to transparency right across our supply chains as we continue to drive up standards in environmental sustainability,” said Giles Bolton, responsible sourcing director for Tesco.

Established in 2015 by the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP), the ODP is dedicated to increasing transparency in seafood supply chains by encouraging seafood-buying companies to publicly report on the seafood they source. 

“By participating in the Ocean Disclosure Project, Tesco has demonstrated its commitment to responsible sourcing of seafood,” ODP Project Manager Tania Woodcock said. “Tesco’s disclosure represents a significant proportion of the seafood consumed in the UK. We hope that other U.K. retailers and seafood suppliers will also be encouraged to support transparency in the seafood sector by disclosing their seafood sourcing.”