Coinciding with World Environment Day, Royal Mail has today released a new stamp collection to highlight threat to UK fisheries. This is the first ever stamp set where Royal Mail champions environmental issues and advocate consumer choice.
The ten stamps highlight the beauty of marine fish as well as provide guidance and encouragement to consumers on how to conserve UK fisheries. Five of the species illustrated are fish that are threatened in UK waters; Common Skate; Spiny Dogfish; Wolffish; Sturgeon and Conger Eel, while five are species from sustainable populations and suitable alternatives; Herring; Red Gurnard; Dab; Pouting and Cornish Sardine.
Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation, University of York, who acted as consultant for Royal Mail on the stamp issue said: “Marine protected areas that are off limits to fishing could recover endangered species like those on the stamps, as well as providing a boost to the fishing industry through recovered stocks. Only one thousandth of 1% of UK seas are fully protected from fishing at present. To bring back endangered fish species, we need a huge increase in the coverage of such protected areas.”
Andrew Hammond, Royal Mail spokesperson, said; “With the majority of the world’s fish stocks currently fully-exploited or over-exploited this is a key issue of concern. We hope this stamp issue goes some way to helping people make informed choices about sustainability and contribute to the discussion about the conservation of UK fish stocks.”
Royal Mail commissioned research to understand the attitudes to and gauge the knowledge of sustainable fishing amongst the British public.
The research found that while the term ‘sustainable fishing’ is widespread, there is generally a lack of knowledge about it. While 99% of people surveyed had heard of the term ‘sustainable fishing’, 53% had heard of the phrase but knew nothing or did not know very much. 46% of people asked described themselves as knowing a fair amount or a great deal about the issue.
The research also revealed a disappointing level of engagement amongst younger people and environmental issues, with more than a third of 16-24 year olds (37%) not aware that some fish are threatened in UK seas, much higher than the 16% of 55-65 year olds.
ATTITUDE:
Older people tend to be more concerned about the impact of fishing on the environment with 59% of those aged 55-65 concerned or very concerned against a figure of 44% of people aged between 16-24.
In total, 49% of people polled said they were not concerned at all or a little concerned at the environmental impact of fishing, while 51% of described themselves as being concerned or very concerned.
CONSUMPTION:
Fresh fish is part of the diet for 88% of Britons. However, based on consumption of fresh fish, only 7% of men and women eat as much fish as the Food Standards Agency recommends, i.e. two portions per week. Fresh fish is eaten two to three times a month only a quarter of people 26%.
PURCHASE BEHAVIOUR:
31% of those asked said their knowledge of sustainability issues caused them to change the species of fish they buy/order while 14% said it led them to reduce the quantity of fish they bought/ordered.
66% of those asked said they would buy/order more fish if they were assured that the fish was fished or farmed in a sustainable way. However, 84% reportedthat there was no information available about the level of sustainability of the species when buying or ordering fish.
KNOWLEDGE OF SUSTAINABILITY STATUS
Few people know about the status of the threatened species.
As well as the fish featured in the stamp issue, some well-known fish species were included in the list when asking respondents if they were aware of the sustainability status of the species in British waters; these were Cod, Haddock, Plaice, Sea Bass, Angel Shark, Mackerel.
On average, 82% of people said that they didn’t know the status or had never heard of the six threatened species (Common Skate, Spiny Dogfish, Wolffish, Sturgeon, Conger Eel, and Angel Shark*). The figure was 81% for the five species on the stamps.
There is also low knowledge even of supposedly well-known species. On average, 54% of people said that they didn’t know the status or had never heard of the six well known species (Cod; Haddock; Plaice; Herring; Sea Bass and Mackerel**).
Knowledge of sustainable alternative species (Cornish Sardine; Herring; Red Gurnard; Dab and Pouting) was as low as for the threatened species, with 81% saying they didn’t know the status or had never heard of the fish.
However, the message about UK cod stocks seems to have got through. 82% of those who said they knew its status were correct (i.e. threatened).
The stamps are available to buy from www.royalmail.com, by phone on 08457641 641 and in 10,000 Post Offices throughout the UK.
To find more information on sustainable fish please visit:
- MCS Fish Online (they also have a mobile app to help you next time you are shopping)
- Marine Stewardship Council
- Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Fish Fight including this section on Channel 4 website
- Slow Food’s Guide to Sustainable Fish
- WWF’s Sustainable Seafood Guide (including international guides by countries)
- National Geographic – The Ocean
Other things you might like to read
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