The majority of EU citizens want the fish they buy to come from sustainable sources, according to an independent poll commissioned by WWF and carried out in 14 EU countries.
However, most feel that they do not have the information on whether the fish on sale does come from such sources. A large majority are in support of a reform of Europe’s Common Fisheries Policy to ensure the sustainability of fish products in future.
WWF says that with 88% of respondents believing it is important that fish products on sale within the EU come from non-overfished stocks, it believes a clear signal is being given to the European Union that ambitious reform of the failing Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is urgently needed. The poll comes as the European Commission is about to hand over its reform proposal to the European Parliament and Member States for approval.
Despite the CFP being reformed twice, it has failed to end overfishing. The ongoing reform of the CFP is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to finally start managing fish in a responsible way, as a precious natural resource. This is also what European citizens think, with 78% of respondents supporting a reform that ensures that all European fish products come from sustainable stocks.
The results of the poll are especially impressive in Southern European countries (Portugal 92%, France 93%, Spain 91%, Italy 95%) and in Belgium (91%) where over 90% of respondents think it is important that fish on sale comes from non-overfished sustainable stocks.
72% of Europeans also feel that they lack adequate information about whether the fish on sale comes from well-managed, sustainable sources.
Campaigner and Chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said:
