The world's major commercial fisheries, those of large predatory species -- which include some of the most popular seafood, such as cod, tuna, shark and swordfish -- have declined to 10 per cent of what they were in the 1950s. Currently, 80 percent of commercially valuable fish stocks is either fully exploited, over-exploited or depleted.
Our appetite for seafood is exceeding our oceans' ability to meet the growing demand, and the global seafood industry's impact on our oceans is altering marine ecosystems around the world.
Salmon farms along Canada's coasts and around the world continue to threaten wild stocks and pollute the marine environment. They are thought to be a significant contributing factor in the collapse of the Fraser River sockeye.
Farmed salmon remains a major seller across Canada. Overwaitea has begun to source land-based closed containment salmon, a more sustainable farmed option; however, they have not yet removed conventionally grown farmed salmon from sale.
The most highly consumed and imported Redlist species is tropical shrimp, a species whose farming and catch methods are wreaking havoc on mangrove forests, marine ecosystems, fresh water supply and the health of many coastal communities.
Canada's eight largest food retailers -- Overwaitea, Loblaw, Safeway, Walmart, Metro, Sobeys, Federated Co-operatives and Costco -- have begun to turn words into action since the release of Greenpeace's ranking report last year.
All chains but Costco are developing or implementing a seafood policy and half have begun to rid their shelves of Redlist species. Species that have been removed from sale include shark, swordfish, Chilean sea bass, orange roughy and Arctic surf clams.
Listed from first place to last place, the chains received the following grades: Overwaitea Food Group 51 per cent (nine per cent in 2009); Loblaw 41 per cent (24 per cent in 2009); Safeway 36 per cent (three per cent in 2009); Walmart 28 per cent (10 per cent in 2009); Metro 21 per cent (one per cent in 2009); Sobeys 14 per cent (11 per cent in 2009); Federated Co-Operatives 12 per cent (nine per cent in 2009) ; and Costco 7 per cent (seven per cent in 2009). Greenpeace's report found the scores had gone up for all chains except Costco, but overall only Overwaitea received a passing grade.
To read more and to see the 15 species or groups of species on the Greenpeace Redlist go to:
http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/Seafoo.../