Today Online 1 Oct 11;
SINGAPORE - Singapore-based supermarket chain Cold Storage will stop selling all sharks fin and shark products in its 42 outlets across the country - the first supermarket in Singapore to implement a "no shark fins policy".
It has joined the WWF Singapore Sustainable Seafood Group, which was launched in April this year and guides businesses on sourcing and promoting sustainable seafood while also playing a role in protecting the marine environment.
"We want to play our part towards caring for the environment. Our team is committed to sourcing for quality, sustainable seafood and other products in our efforts to achieve long-term sustainability and marine conservation," said Mr Victor Chia, CEO of Cold Storage Supermarket, in a statement.
The supermarket chain will also source and offer a wide range of sustainable seafood recommended by WWF, and offer Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified seafood such as the hake fillet from South Africa.
Singapore is one of the biggest seafood consumers in the Asia-Pacific region, consuming an average of 100,000 tonnes of seafood each year. Most of this is imported from the Coral Triangle, the world's most diverse marine environment.
Ms Amy Ho, managing director of WWF Singapore, said: "For a nation where seafood is a popular meal choice, Cold Storage's commitment offers consumers an opportunity to make choices that will protect fish stocks and endangered marine species over the long term," she added.
Other members of the WWF Singapore Sustainable Seafood Group are SODEXO Singapore and Fairmont Singapore.
Leading Singaporean supermarket chain says “no” to shark fin
WWF 30 Sep 11;
Singapore – Prominent Singapore-based supermarket chain Cold Storage has joined the WWF Singapore Sustainable Seafood Group and marked its commitment with an announcement that it will stop selling all shark fin and shark products in its 42 outlets across the country.
WWF Singapore Sustainable Seafood Group was launched in April this year and provides businesses with the guidance they need to source and promote sustainable seafood while also playing a role in protecting the marine environment.
“We want to play our part towards caring for the environment. Our team is committed to sourcing for quality, sustainable seafood and other products in our efforts to achieve long-term sustainability and marine conservation,” explained Mr Victor Chia, CEO, Cold Storage Supermarket.
Cold Storage is the first supermarket in Singapore to implement a “no shark fins policy”. It is also the nation’s first retail food chain to source and offer a wide range of sustainable seafood recommended by WWF and offer Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified seafood such as the hake fillet from South Africa.
The supermarket is a subsidiary of Dairy Farm, a leading pan-Asian food retailer that operates more than 5,300 outlets and employs some 80,000 people in the Asia-Pacific region.
“WWF is happy to support Cold Storage in its efforts to make its retail operations more sustainable and promote responsible consumption in Singapore,” said Ms Amy Ho, Managing Director, WWF Singapore. “For a nation where seafood is a popular meal choice, Cold Storage’s commitment offers consumers an opportunity to make choices that will protect fish stocks and endangered marine species over the long term,” she added.
Mr Patrick Caleo, Country Manager Australia and New Zealand, Marine Stewardship Council says: “The Marine Stewardship Council applauds Cold Storage’s efforts to provide customers with the choice of purchasing seafood sourced from sustainable fisheries, and we look forward to working with them in their efforts to offer MSC certified wild-caught seafood products across their stores in the future. As a result of Cold Storage’s efforts thousands of Singaporeans will have access to sustainable seafood which is a great development, and the company should be commended for playing its part in safeguarding seafood stocks for future generations.”
Presently, SODEXO Singapore and Fairmont Singapore are members of the WWF Singapore Sustainable Seafood Group.
An average of 100,000 tons of seafood is consumed each year in Singapore, making it one of the biggest seafood consumers in the Asia-Pacific region. Most of this is imported from the Coral Triangle, the world’s most diverse marine environment.
Only 3 shark species protected
Letter from Jennifer Lee Today Online 5 Oct 11;
I REFER to the report "Cold Storage says 'no' to shark's fin" (Oct 2), which announced Cold Storage's commendable decision to join the World Wildlife Fund's Sustainable Seafood Group.
At present, more than 70 per cent of the world's commercial marine fish stocks are either fully exploited or over-fished. Scientists have warned of the potential global collapse of all marine fish stocks by 2048.
Yet, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) fails to provide sufficient trade protection to many marine species.
For example, the blue-fin tuna is listed as critically endangered but is legally and readily available at many Japanese restaurants. One-third of all shark species are threatened by extinction, but only three species are protected under CITES.
As fishing efficiencies improve with technology, our oceans are being emptied faster than fishes are able to reproduce. If we do not want to be the generation responsible for depriving our children of the beautiful, bio-diversified oceans we now enjoy, there must be unified efforts to prioritise sustainability.
Consumers can play a part by ensuring that their choice of seafood is sustainable as well as by cutting down on consumption and moving towards a more plant-based diet.
I hope that the "no shark-fin policy" will also be implemented in the near future at other supermarkets here.
