Fishermen Upset With Whole Foods for Refusing to Sell ‘Unsustainable’ Fish: Attempt to Placate ‘the Green People’
- Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:25pm by
Liz Klimas
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(Image: Whole Foods)
What has fishermen from New England saying things like “we’ve been murdered“ and ”it’s totally maddening”? It’s the fact that in an already heavily regulated industry, stores like Whole Foods are saying they will no longer take their “unsustainable” catch of the day.
The New York Times reports Whole Foods, a supermarket chain known for organic and natural products, has added to the list of fish it won’t sell at all or those caught using certain methods. The Times reports Atlantic cod is among the many that won’t be sold if it is caught using trawling nets, a popular technique in New England. Here’s what some fishermen had to say about it:
“It’s totally maddening,” [Naz] Sanfilippo said. “They’re just doing it to make all the green people happy.”
[...]
“We’ve been murdered,” said Russell Sherman, who sold his entire catch to Whole Foods for the last six years and is seeking new buyers. “It’s not fair at all.”
Jim Ford, who said he sold 700,000 pounds of fish to Whole Foods over the past year, declared, “It’s a marketing ploy, that’s all.” Mr. Ford said he would now sell to the Legal Sea Foods restaurant chain instead.
The Times reports Whole Foods has had a fish processing plant in New England since 2006 and even had some boats working exclusively for the company in the area. In addition to Atlantic cod, Whole Foods stated it would stop selling all “red-rated” fish as of Sunday. Red-rated is a designation prescribed by Whole Foods based on a couple ratings. Whole Foods describes what this means:
From now on, all of the wild-caught seafood we carry will be from fisheries certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), or green (best choice) or yellow (good alternative) species rated by Blue Ocean Institute (BOI) andMonterey Bay Aquarium (MBA).
Rating based on Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch. (Image: Whole Foods)
Rating based on Blue Ocean Institute. (Image: Whole Foods)
This adds to an existing list of seafood the store will not sell.
Watch the announcement here:
With many strict federal regulations already in place, the Times reports, some wonder why grocery stores are still limiting themselves on the types of fish they’ll take. Whole Foods is not the only one. The Times notes New Hampshire fisherman and New England Fishery Management Council member David Goethel calling existing regulations “the strictest management regime in the world” and stating that the word “sustainable” means nothing.
Others praise Whole Foods for its decision. Ellen Pikitch, director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University, told the Times that Whole Foods is making an example of “relatively well-managed fisheries” by continuing to sell their stock. She called it “unfortunate” many New England fisheries don’t qualify but believes they will in time as the fish populations increase or catch methods are changed.
The Times reports policy director of the Northeast Seafood Coalition Vito Giacalone as saying “it’s not good for the industry,” but he states there will be demand in other areas of the market. Still, taking a glass half full approach, Giacalone said there are some other fish caught in New England that will still be sold in the store.
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Comments (103)
Endstatism
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:30pmWhen progressives were boycotting Whole Foods because of the founder`s stand against Obama HellCare, many conservatives stepped forward and put some dollars in their stores. No more, they are sellouts. Why do so many businesses knuckle under to pressure from groups that may have 10,000 to 50,000 members nationwide? Color Of Change claims 800,000 members but there are millions of us with far more economic power. Has the CEOs and board of directors of American corporations become politically correct spineless wimps?
Report Post »BlackAce41
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:24pmThis is a good move.. he is listening to what his market is dictating. I as a libertarian stand for it.The Government is the one that is allowing the Big Marketer with big wallets to run the show..
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 3:46pmCan you say “ Sorry Charlie”
Report Post »u_mad
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 4:44pmI personally hope we farm the hell out of the planet. Who cares if it gets polluted and “ecologically unstable”? If we run out of species, who cares? If we get cancer from pollution, who cares! Jesus will fix the problems.
Report Post »azuleserape
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:54pmThis is a PRIVATE move made by a company due to consumer demand, NO government involvement what so ever…. How exactly is that wimpy?
Report Post »THX-1138
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:28pmOne more place that won’t get a dime of my money.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:35pmGreat ID… and it inspires some thinking :)
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:11pmWho needs fish when our cities are full of domestic dogs? My neighbor just got a new dog and it’s a big one…especially after I help fatten it up by throwing him all my garbage. BBQ sauce and a shake of meat tenderizer ought to make fido just yummy! If the President can do it then so can I. Fish is fertilizer. Dog is the real meat!
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:15pmAnd there’s a fat cat two doors down…
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:40pm@The Capn’ – ‘Arrr… I think I smell Debbie Wasserman Scultz. A keelhaulin’ is order…what ye think, Polly?… Brawk.. walk the plank… walk the plank…’
Report Post »Mainer forever
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:16pmI too do not shop at Whole Foods. I’d rather get a better deal at the two other local grocery chains.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 3:26pmDarn place is to expensive, but they have the right to sell or not sell whatever they want to, that is what freedom is about. (Of course if they want to be slaves to envirementalists, that’s theirs to do too.)
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:15pmI buy from them sometimes; as, they’re not exactly next door.
Report Post »Generally, when I buy from them, it‘s things that aren’t available, or at least not at the same quality level, anywhere else equidistant from me.
This story doesn’t change my shopping choices, one way or the other. Maybe it would if I was shopping for those specific fish; but, I don’t like fish.
ron2win
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 6:47amLike trader joe’s a few blocks away from whole foods in portland.Try their jellys ,my favorite is cherry simply awesome.There is actualy cherry halfs mixed in.The rest of their products are very good all so .Try it ,you’ll like it .
Report Post »grimmy
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:13pmWhole foods started here in Austin Texas. Since they opened, i have not nor ever will buy anything from those commie hippies.Their prices are 3-4 times higher for their products, that are no better than what can be purchased at your local grocery store.Whole food,take you sorry commie ass, and kiss mine.
Report Post »benahan davids
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:12pmThis is a free market. They are catering to who they sell the most to. If you dont like it , dont buy it. If they are wrong , they lose money. When they lose money things change. I dont support them, because of this and several other things that they do. I support local farms and co-ops Much better food anyway. I am not saying what i am doing is right or wrong, i am saying do what you want and the market corrects either way.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:45pmI agree in principle with you. My issue is when the fed becomes involved. Responsible, sustainable practices are one thing and okey dokey. When people who do not fish for a living and do not know what the practical realities of the industry are, make the regulations, then we have a self inflicted problem.
It is a small point, a few months back a fishing company caught a 5000 lb tuna ( I think?) and the FED confiscated it. The company had all the permits, all the licenses,and the fed said there was some arcane rule that allowed them to confiscate the fish. It was sold by the fed for the equivalent of scrap food; which if sold fresh, the fisherman would have collected thousands. This was a Blaze article.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:00pmhttp://www.theblaze.com/stories/meet-the-fed-up-fisherman-who-lost-his-megabucks-tuna-to-the-feds-and-why-hes-ticked-about-it/
the blaze article.
Report Post »Wiggims
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:09pmOverfishing is a problem…I read an interesting book on the topic called Four Fish by Paul Greenberg. I thought it was thoughtfully written. It discuses wild and farmed fish practices.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:14pmYup… next… Soylent Green!
Report Post »BigBrian71113
Posted on April 24, 2012 at 8:59amThat’s a fine argument, but not for the heavily regulated U.S. fisherman. The rest of the world doesn’t have the strict regulations on fishing we have here. Just another thought check out what farm raised tilapia eats, not to mention farm raised salmon needs to have it‘s feed dyed so that the fish’s flesh will be pink instead of grey.
Report Post »spirited
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:08pm“The Times reports Whole Foods has had a fish processing plant in New England since 2006 and even had some boats working exclusively for the company in the area.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> CONFLICT OF INTEREST ?
Whole foods should just sell their own catch and advertise their catch methods.
>WHO are ‘they’ to set the standards?
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:04pmOnly Muffin Heads who drive Subaru’s shop at Whole Foods. Let them refuse to sell certain fish. Their competitors will gain financially from their stupidity.
Report Post »happ77
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:22pmThats funny . “Muffin heads”
Report Post »They just opened one nearby, wife had to go see it,
not impressed.
00gabooga
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:03pmI specifically don’t shop at Whole Foods just to stay away from the GREEN people. Don’t worry fisherman, you’re not missing out on your target demographic.
Report Post »Wyatt's Torch
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:02pmYummy…Nothing like farm raised fish and shrimp raised in a slop ditch in Vietnam or downwind from the iPad factory in China. Sustainable? You betcha…sustained high levels of heavy metals, pollutants, and toxins…but at least they weren’t caught in an evil net.
Report Post »nueces
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 9:52pmUnfortunately the reactionaries chiming in here don’t realize you are just revealing a known and provable fact. I will not eat farmed seafood because I know what you know.
Report Post »Quiata
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:02pmNEWSFLASH:
Report Post »It is a company’s prerogative to SELL WHAT THEY WANT. It’s called “FREE MARKET”, and if you don’t like it, shop elsewhere.
I honestly can’t believe Whole Foods is being criticized for their marketing decisions by people who ostensibly *SHOULD* respect their right to run their business as they choose.
By the way, there is nothing wrong with questioning whether a particular fish population is about to implode by over-harvesting. It does happen, people.
fishfool
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:16pmI am a Commercial fisherman, None of you not in the industry understand what all this is doing to the local fisherman. The regulations we have to follow only serve to increase IMPORTS from unregulated foreign markets while running most of the small fisherman out of business leaving only the corporate giants to harvest fish in this country. Most wholesale fish markets have gone to imports only because its to much trouble to comply with NOAA regulations when buying local caught fish.
Report Post »TheSoundOf Truth
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:10pmFishfool, not to mention the bad press this is giving NE fishermen. Now you are demonized for just fishing.
This is as clear an example of Atlas Shrugged as I can see. You have government regulations compounded by pseudo-science and over-the-top activism.
Whole Foods is trying to get back their “base” that they lost when John Mackey went off about health care (which he was “asked to resign”). They are working diligently to eliminate their conservative customers…
Funny, how they talk about “fish conservation” and yet they alienate people who are by nature, conservative.
Report Post »Quiata
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 5:20pm@FISHFOOL No one is arguing with the problems that imported fish (or imported ANYTHING, for that matter) present to over-regulated domestic producers: Imported fruit, produce, medications, personal care products, garments, drywall, industrial materials, mechanical parts, etc. The list is endless. Name ANY industry that has to compete with unfettered (sometimes lawless) cheap **** overseas competition, and your story is the same.
An ignorant and frequently unconcerned consumer public is part of the equation. But you’d be surprised at how responsive many people are, and how many people want to support YOUR fishing business. Maybe you should start your own “info-label” movement to support healthy *domestic* fishing.
Report Post »Conservealiberty
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 5:21pmI have Commercial fished the last 4 summers in sitka alaska. Being from southern california i learned how completely little i knew about the commercial fishing industry. What Whole foods is doing should be applaudable. Trawling is a terrible practice and light should be shown on what it is. It destroys the ocean and i read a few years ago that since New England has been getting tough with trawlers and kicking them out of certain areas the whole ecosystems are comming back in those areas and the true small fisherman can get thier share. Thats the funniest thing about these trawlers, they goto the main stream media because they can afford it and cry the small business man that is getting regulated by the feds. All commercial fisherman deal with terrible regulations, but these trawlers should be stopped.
Report Post »InfiniteSolutions
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:01pmI have to think about this one. So, we could stop purchasing from whole foods since they sale a lot of processed crap, GMO and Non-Organic food too. I see, the fish thing is a market force where fisherman who relied on whole foods all the sudden are being told how to do business. Well, works both ways, since whole foods decides to pick one industry for its self-righteousness then if they have any true desire to make this world great, guess they will have to refuse the majority of all their suppliers.
I’m all for conservation and doing the right thing and yes, all industries need to change how we farm and pollute. But, you don’t all the sudden change policy and then leave the fisherman holding the bag. That is unfair. Maybe the fisherman had some notice but I don’t see it in this article.
Report Post »MammalOne
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:57pmI don’t buy into the “green” narrative but it makes complete sense to me that people should be harvesting wild fish in a sustainable manner. We’ve completely decimated fish populations in the past – which hurt the fishing industry way more than regulations (would you rather catch less fish or no fish…). This isn’t an assault on business, it’s a way of keeping fishermen from shooting themselves in the foot.
Report Post »Heaven forbid we exploit our resources in an intelligent way.
TheSoundOf Truth
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:16pmHeaven forbid we tell fishermen who have been doing this for their whole lives how to fish.
Fish populations were never depleted by man-made means (whaling doesn‘t count because WHALES AREN’T FISH!).
99% of all fish consumed in the US are farmed. These fishermen who are getting hurt by this are small business, not the giant industrial fisheries that the “rating” is supposed to target.
Report Post »nobull14
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:56pmThis is nothing new ? these Tree hugging Morons have been making life on the west coast terrible for the business people for years !!!!! its like bringing back the wolf in the northwest so they can kill the ranchers cattle and live stock and not too mention they hunt in packs and will kill and eat you given the chance?
Report Post »Quiata
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:06pmTrue, NoBull, but Whole Foods isn’t the only grocery chain that purchases and sells fish, and one could argue that Whole Foods serves a more “niche” market anyway. If you really want to purchase Atlantic Cod, for instance, then find a retailer or restaurant that sells it and vote with your dollars.
Side note: You really ought to research Atlantic Cod and how it is harvested. It’s a little eye opening.
Report Post »ZaphodsPlanet
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:54pmI have shopped at Whole Foods since it was just a single store on Lamar Blvd. here in this stupid liberal city called Austin. But to be quite frank, I have stopped buying most fish from them since as far as I’m concerned, so much of the fish farm raised fish taste like crap compared to wild caught. Next time I go in I will let them know I think the new policy is totally bogus. Oh…. also stopped buying most meat from them too. I started checking out the local farmers market and found a ranch that sells beef that is out of this freaking world. It’s hormone and anti-biotic free just like what I was getting at Whole foods…. but tastes even better.
Report Post »Nuncle
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:50pmFarmed fish = Responsible? There is a goodly amount of debate around that. Issues like Genetic Monoculture, Waste & Over feeding leading to disease, etc. etc.
Food is complicated. Some people want their decision in bite size portions so they don’t have to think about it… At least this may lower the price of fish for a time, now that the food museum isn’t buying.
Report Post »deeberj
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:43pmI personally do not want farmed fish. Besides issues of how good is it for that many fish to be in a relatively small “pond”, how do I know they are eating anything like what they eat in the wild? Everyone knows that farmed salmon are fed often synthetic canthaxanthin and astaxanthin for color finishing (make more pink), they have more PCBs than wild ones, they spread disease among themselves which spreads to the wild, and although they have the same amount of omega 3‘s per lb the farmed fish are far fatter so they have more omega 3’s because they have more fat.
Report Post »izukiddin
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:47pmDon’t buy from environmentalist whackos!
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:45pmWho cares. Only morons shop at whole foods anyway.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:42pmI’ve always thought it kind of fitting that if someone loves the earth too much, that they should become rooted in dirt.
Report Post »scuba13
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 7:12pmYour brain is rooted in stupidity Timmy.
Report Post »right-wing-waco
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:40pmI would suggest that ALL fishermen stop selling ANY fish to Whore Foods. When they can’t get ANY fish to sell, they will get the idea.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:40pmAll the greeny weenies should lead by example and drop off the earth, and turn into plants whereby all people can see them doing their part to save the planet.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 10:21pmok i’m waiting do it now by by
Report Post »love the kids
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:39pmDo they sell “Asian Carp”? There seems to be an unlimited supply of those, and if you want to go green, then that would include selling things that might also not be so desireable, but i’m sure the environmentalist would buy it right up.
Report Post »thesource
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:35pmIt is their business, they can do what they want. If you don’t like, don’t buy – free market
Report Post »TheSoundOf Truth
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 2:13pmActually, what they are doing is committing a subversive kind of collusion, which is illegal. They bought fisheries and boats and signed people to contracts to fish for them, and they deliberately shut them down under the guise of “supporting sustainable fishing” when really what they are doing is trying to monopolize the fishing industry. they are doing this to eliminate their completion, amongst other things.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:34pmThat’s ok… There are a lot of other grocers who would be more than willing to get their hands on that stock.
Report Post »Quiata
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:07pmExactly. Viva the Free Market.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:29pmCONTROL the Food… and you CONTROL the people!
Report Post »Doctor Nordo
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 12:42pmOh please. Tell me you’re joking.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 1:01pm@DOC…
Report Post »Did you notice… that as you continue through the Education System… that Studies become more, and more specialized… and in Grad School one ends up focus upon a Minute Aspect of Study for a Doctoral Thesis. So, if there was an Ultimate Degree… upon Singularity… or the opposite of Everything… it would a Dissertation upon: NOTHING!
Quest4Freedom
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 4:11pmI agree wholeheartedly with that statement. On another topic, but completely related, let’s not forget hybrid seeds. There, again, if you are not able to grow your own crop from your own stock, you have ccomplete control of the masses. Tell me why the soy farmers cannot grow from their saved seeds? Can you say MONTSANO? Also, tell my why Obama made a deal with Africa to use only hybrid seeds.Wait, I’ll tell you. Control the crop and you control the people… or in other words, comply or FAMINE!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on April 23, 2012 at 4:40pm@QUEST…
Report Post »To sell Seeds Annually, Chemical Corporations hybrid the Seeds… preventing Reproduction. So, this where the Democrats & GOP work together… one for Profit; one for Control… and it becomes immaterial whom is Elected, for both Sides want to take advantage of the People. This toilet needs to be flushed!