To celebrate World Oceans Day (June 8th) and marking its 15th anniversary, the Marine Stewardship Council has announced a new series of awards for supporting certified sustainable seafood. The awards recognise the leadership position taken by UK chefs and businesses that are helping to transform the world’s oceans to a sustainable basis. Sustainable seafood sourcing has become a watchword for retailers, chefs and caterers over the past few years. Celebrity campaigns and retailer commitments have driven huge public awareness of the issues of overfishing.
The award winners for 2014 are:
MSC Chef of the Year 2014
Winner: Raymond Blanc OBE
Few chefs have done more to highlight the cause of sustainable seafood over the past 20 years and Raymond Blanc’s recent ‘Inspector Raymond Investigates’ animations brought the issue to thousands of university students, chip shop customers and fellow restaurateurs.
Category criteria: Award for the chef who has done the most to promote and celebrate MSC certified seafood in the past year
Best MSC Restaurant Menu 2014
Winner: Wahaca
With the first fully MSC-certified menu in the UK, Wahaca’s commitment to certified sustainable seafood put them ahead of the competition in this category for independent restaurants.
Category criteria: Restaurant demonstrating biggest commitment to MSC certified seafood
MSC Fish Retailer of the Year 2014
Winner: Sainsbury’s
Sainsbury’s is the UK supermarket selling the largest range of individual MSC labelled products. In the past year, it has also introduced the UK’s first MSC certified tuna sandwich this year as part of a new range of MSC certified sandwiches and salads.
Category criteria: Widest range of MSC certified products
Best MSC Certified Fish Counter 2014
Winner: Waitrose
Waitrose’ fish counter has the broadest range of MSC certified options of any UK supermarket. Recent additions include MSC certified cod fish cakes and MSC certified smoked haddock fillets.
Category criteria: Widest wet fish counter choice of MSC certified options
Top MSC Frozen Fish Brand 2014
Winner: Birds Eye
Birds Eye’s frozen fish fingers are one of the most iconic seafood products and one of the UK’s most popular fish choices. Yet they are just one of a hugely popular MSC range the company offers
Category criteria: Combining the range of MSC labelled products and volume of sales
Top MSC Canned Fish Brand 2014
Winner: Princes
Princes have been hugely influential with a wide and varied range of MSC labelled products over the past two years.
Category criteria: Combining the range of MSC labelled products and volume of sales
MSC High Street Convenience Retailer of the Year 2014
Winner: Marks & Spencer
In the convenience sector, M&S has always been a key part of the sustainable seafood debate and, with 38 MSC labelled products on sale, has more than any other high street convenience retailer.
UK convenience retailer selling the largest number of MSC labelled products
Category criteria: Widest range of MSC certified products in a convenience retailer
MSC University of the Year 2014
Winner: University of Greenwich
Over 30 universities got involved with the ‘Raymond Investigates’ series, but none more so that Greenwich. Their active engagement involved internal marketing and social media marketing including a blog post, facebook and twitter promotion.
MSC Fish Supplier of the Year 2014
Winner: Brakes
Over 3,000 primary schools serve MSC certified seafood thanks to Brakes’ certification and this is reflected in the huge range of MSC labelled products offered by the company.
Category criteria: Biggest range of MSC labelled products on sale
Toby Middleton, Senior UK Country Manager for the MSC said: “These winners have set a high bar for the first annual MSC awards. Each of them has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to MSC certified sustainable seafood, investing time and energy in sourcing sustainably. By offering their customers and clients MSC certified seafood, they are helping to transform fishing practices around the world. To date, MSC certified fisheries around the world have made over 400 improvements. Those changes wold not be possible without strong and visible support from supermarkets, chefs and seafood brands.”