Scampi claims ‘misleading’, says Seafish

UK media reports have alleged that the Nephrops fishery that scampi production relies on causes significant damage to the seabed and has unacceptable volumes of bycatch.

But Seafish says the issues are far more complex than have been portrayed. “Recent media coverage suggests that consumers should avoid scampi because the fishery causes environmental damage,” said Aoife Martin, Seafish director of operations.

“This is an extreme view. The reality is much more nuanced and reflects a fishery where government, scientists, and the fishing industry work collaboratively to improve the management of the fishery and to ensure its long-term sustainability.

Martin asserts that the ‘bycatch’ mentioned in media reports is instead commercially valuable species such as whiting, haddock and cod caught as part of a mixed fishery. “To label these other species as bycatch is not correct,” she said. “Fishermen will hold quota for these species, and they represent a key part of their fishing income.”

Seafish does acknowledge that endangered, threatened and protected species can occasionally get caught in fishing gear and says that work is ongoing to better manage this.

“We know that scampi comes from a mixed fishery so reducing the demand is unlikely to reduce fishing pressure, but it could stop valuable monitoring and research on those other species that are not as well understood as Nephrops,” said Martin.