Co-op

The Co-op is a leading convenience retailer, with more than 2,500 stores across the UK - that's one in every postal area. As a member-owned cooperative it is guided by principles that include open membership and concern for community. Wild caught fish represent around two thirds of Co-op brand fish products.

Number of Fisheries Used

40

Number of Fisheries Well Managed

28

Number of Fisheries Managed

6

Number of fisheries in need of improvement

4

Profile not yet complete

2

Fishing Methods Used in Associated Fisheries
    • Midwater trawl
    • Bottom trawl
    • Dredge
    • Seine nets
    • Purse seine
    • Gillnets and entangling nets
    • Hook and line
    • Long line
    • Handlines and pole-lines
    • Pots and traps
    • Miscellaneous
Summary

Co-op Food has a public policy to carefully monitor and control its fish supplies, applying this policy to all fresh, frozen and processed fish across its own-brand range. Aiming to source all its seafood from well managed farms and fisheries, Co-op has been working with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to understand risks in its seafood supply chain since 2012, and became one of the first companies to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project in 2015. Co-op is also a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC), a partnership of UK businesses working together to support sustainable seafood, and ensures that all seafood is sourced and labelled in accordance with the SSC Codes of Conduct. Co-op Food supports several fishery improvement projects (FIPs) and notably increased its range of MSC-certified products from 28 in 2015 to 54 in 2017.

http://www.co-operativefood.co.uk/food-matters/ http://www.co-operativefood.co.uk/food-matters/reducing-our-impacts/reducing-our-impacts-fish-sourcing/

Associated Fisheries

Fishery Name and Location
Fishing Methods
Certification or FIP
Stock Status and Management
Notes
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Alaska pollock

Theragra chalcogramma

Aleutian Islands, E Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska

Fishery countries:
U.S.
  • Midwater trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low and there are mitigation measures in place.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.
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Alaska pollock

Theragra chalcogramma

Sea of Okhotsk

Fishery countries:
Russia
  • Midwater trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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American lobster

Homarus americanus

Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank

Fishery countries:
U.S.
  • Pots and traps

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are potential risks to PET species with this fishery, but mitigation actions are underway. 
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Anchoveta

Engraulis ringens

Peruvian Northern-Central

Fishery countries:
Peru
  • Purse seine

Not certified or in a FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on PET species but may impact food availability to PET species. The FIP aims to better understand the impacts of the fishery on PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. However, anomalous environmental conditons observed since 2013 have been associated with an increased catch of non-target species.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed. The FIP aims to better understand the impacts of the fishery on habitats.
General Notes
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Argentine anchovy

Engraulis anchoita

North of 41°S to Santa Catarina

Fishery countries:
Argentina
  • Midwater trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • Occasional interactions with seabirds and marine mammals are known to occur within this fishery, but data is too limited to state whether this hinders their recovery. An MSC condition is in place to provide evidence of effects on PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.
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Argentine hake

Merluccius hubbsi

Patagonian

Fishery countries:
Argentina
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to sharks, skates and seabirds with this fishery.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is a risk, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. However, management measures are in place.
General Notes
  • No additional notes
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Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua

Barents Sea

Fishery countries:
Russia, Norway, U.K.
  • Bottom trawl
  • Seine nets
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Hook and line
  • Long line

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to seabirds and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
  • There is bycatch for this fishery but non-target species are retained.  Management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.
  • The impact depends on the gear type. Bottom trawls and anchored gillnets will have the greatest impact on the sea bed.  MSC conditions and recommendations are in place to strengthen understanding of fishery interactions with sensitive habitat.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
fishery flag

Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua

Icelandic

Fishery countries:
Iceland
  • Midwater trawl
  • Bottom trawl
  • Seine nets
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Long line
  • Handlines and pole-lines

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on PET species.
  • There is bycatch for this fishery but non-target species are retained.  Management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.
  • The impact depends on the gear type. Bottom trawls will have the greatest impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua

Norwegian coastal

Fishery countries:
Norway
  • Midwater trawl
  • Seine nets
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Long line

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species. An MSC condition is in place to review gear interactions with PET species and implement mitigation measures where needed.
  • Bycatch is a risk in this fishery but there are mitigation measures in place. An MSC condition is in place to assess and manage potential impacts on bycatch species.
  • The impact depends on the gear type. An MSC condition is in place to assess the impact of the fisheries on sensitive habitats.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
fishery flag fishery flag fishery flag fishery flag

Atlantic mackerel

Scomber scombrus

NE Atlantic

Fishery countries:
Denmark, U.K., Faroe Islands, Norway
  • Midwater trawl
  • Purse seine

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to PET species with this fishery, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
  • Bycatch in this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Blue mussel

Mytilus edulis

Limfjord

Fishery countries:
Denmark
  • Dredge

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch in this fishery is considered low.
  • Dredges will directly impact on the sea bed. An MSC condition is in place to assess the impact of mussel dredges on the sea floor.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Common edible cockle

Cerastoderma edule

Limfjord

Fishery countries:
Denmark
  • Dredge

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Dredges will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Edible crab

Cancer pagurus

Orkney

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Pots and traps

FIP

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to sea turtles and marine mammals of entanglement in pot ropes with this fishery.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. Non-target species are usually released alive.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes

This fishery was in an FIP from 2012 to 2017. The Orkney edible crab creel fishery then entered into the full MSC assessment process in May 2017, it is anticipated that if the fishery meets the standard it will be certified in 2018.

Other ratings
The Marine Conservation Society categorises the Orkney fishery for edible crab using creels and pots as "Rating 3 (yellow)". This rating was downgraded from "Rating 2 (pale green) in 2018.

Caveat

The stock status and management rating for this fishery is based on a provisional assessment and is not derived from the FishSource profile.

References
MCS's Good Fish Guide - Crab, brown or edible, Orkney

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European anchovy

Engraulis encrasicolus

Bay of Biscay

Fishery countries:
Spain
  • Purse seine

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.
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European hake

Merluccius merluccius

NE Atlantic northern stock

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Gillnets and entangling nets

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to marine mammals, sharks, skates and rays with this fishery, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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European pilchard

Sardina pilchardus

NW Africa central

Fishery countries:
Morocco
  • Midwater trawl
  • Purse seine

FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to have direct impacts on PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.
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European plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

Icelandic

Fishery countries:
Iceland
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to cause unacceptable impacts to PET species.
  • There is bycatch for this fishery but management measures are in place to reduce impacts.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. But, the fishery is considered highly unlikely to irreparably reduce habitat structure and function.
General Notes
  • This fishery was MSC certified in 2017 following an expedited assessment started in 2016.
fishery flag

European plaice

Pleuronectes platessa

North Sea and Skagerrak

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
fishery flag fishery flag

Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Barents Sea

Fishery countries:
Norway, Russia
  • Bottom trawl
  • Seine nets
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Hook and line
  • Long line

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species, but available data is still limited.
  • Bycatch varies for this fishery depending on gear type. Long lines and gillnets present the greatest risk.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Icelandic

Fishery countries:
Iceland
  • Midwater trawl
  • Bottom trawl
  • Seine nets
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Long line
  • Handlines and pole-lines

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. Measures to protect vulnerable habitats such as cold water coral reefs are in place.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Haddock

Melanogrammus aeglefinus

Northern shelf

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • There is bycatch for this fishery but management measures are in place to reduce impacts on retained species.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. But, the fishery is considered highly unlikely to irreparably reduce habitat structure and function.
General Notes
  • As a mixed fishery, the effects of management measures on other species need to be considered within an ecosystem context.
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Northern prawn

Pandalus borealis

Atlantic Canada: SFAs 2-7, 9-10, 12-15

Fishery countries:
Canada
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to seabirds with this fishery, but there is insufficient data available to assess significance.
  • There is a lack of information on bycatch in this fishery.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • Profile not yet complete for all assessment units.
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Northern prawn

Pandalus borealis

Western Greenland

Fishery countries:
Greenland
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.
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Norway lobster

Nephrops norvegicus

South Minch, North Minch, Firth of Clyde

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Bottom trawl

Not certified or in a FIP

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery may present a risk to sharks, skates and rays.
  • Bycatch for this fishery includes whiting, haddock and Norway pout. Bycatch of cod is low and mitigation measures are in place to reduce impacts on cod.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. However, management measures are in place.
General Notes
  • This fishery is expected to enter into a FIP in 2018.
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Pink salmon

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Alaska

Fishery countries:
U.S.
  • Purse seine
  • Gillnets and entangling nets
  • Long line

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • While encounters with marine mammals and birds have been documented in this fishery, the impact on PET species is not thought to be significant.
  • There is no risk of bycatch for this fishery. Catches of other salmon species are accounted for in the pink salmon management.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.
General Notes

Caveat
The environmental notes for this fishery are based on information that is partly derived from sources other than the FishSource profile.

References

Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, MSC Public Certification Report for Alaska Salmon Fishery.

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Pink salmon

Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Russia - Iturup Island Sakhalin

Fishery countries:
Russia
  • Pots and traps

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low and non-target species are released alive.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.
General Notes

Caveat
The environmental notes for this fishery are based on a provisional assessment and are not derived from the FishSource profile.

References
SCS Global Services, 2015, MSC Public Certification Report for Iturup Pink & Chum Salmon Fisheries

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Queen scallop

Aequipecten opercularis

Irish Sea and W of Scotland

Fishery countries:
U.K.
  • Dredge

Not certified or in a FIP

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Bycatch is a risk for this fishery.
  • Dredges will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes

Other ratings
The Marine Conservation Society categorises the Irish Sea dredge fishery for Queen scallop as "Rating 4 (orange)".
Caveat
The stock status and management rating for this fishery is based on a provisional assessment and is not derived from the FishSource profile.
References
MCS's Good Fish Guide - Scallop, Queen, scallops, Irish Sea

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Red swamp crawfish

Procambarus clarkii

Chinese waters

Fishery countries:
China
  • Pots and traps

FIP

Needs improvement

Environmental Notes
  • There is a lack of information on interactions with PET species in this fishery, but the introduced red swamp crawfish presents a risk to native crawfish species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is likely to be low.
  • This fishery takes place in natural freshwater systems and rice fields and is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.
General Notes

As an introduced species, the impacts of the fishery on native species and ecosystems need to be considered.

Caveat

The stock status and management rating and environmental notes for this fishery are based on a provisional assessment and are not derived from the FishSource profile.

References

SAI Global, 2016, Report on Qianjiang Hubei Province Red Swamp Crayfish fisheries - A Technical Review Document for the Development of a Fishery Improvement Project

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Skipjack tuna

Katsuwonus pelamis

Eastern Atlantic Ocean

Fishery countries:
Senegal
  • Handlines and pole-lines

Not certified or in a FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Skipjack tuna

Katsuwonus pelamis

Indian Ocean

Fishery countries:
Indonesia
  • Handlines and pole-lines

FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Skipjack tuna

Katsuwonus pelamis

Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Fishery countries:
Indonesia
  • Handlines and pole-lines

FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Skipjack tuna

Katsuwonus pelamis

Western Atlantic Ocean

Fishery countries:
Brazil
  • Handlines and pole-lines

Not certified or in a FIP

Managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. But, bycatch of undersized yellowfin tuna is a risk for the Brazilian fishery.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • No additional notes.
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Sockeye salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

Alaska - Bristol Bay

Fishery countries:
U.S.
  • Gillnets and entangling nets

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the benthic habitat.
General Notes

Caveat
The environmental notes for this fishery are based on a provisional assessment and are not derived from the FishSource profile.
References
Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, MSC Public Certification Report for the Alaska Salmon Fishery

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Speckled shrimp

Metapenaeus monoceros

Indonesia

Fishery countries:
Indonesia
  • Bottom trawl

Not certified or in a FIP

Profile not yet complete

Environmental Notes
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Profile not yet complete.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes
  • This fishery is expected to enter into a FIP in 2018.
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Wellington flying squid

Nototodarus sloanii

NZ Southern Islands

Fishery countries:
New Zealand
  • Midwater trawl

FIP

Profile not yet complete

Environmental Notes
  • There are risks to seabirds and marine mammals with this fishery, but there are mitigation measures in place.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • Midwater trawls may have an occasional but cumulative impact.
General Notes
  • This fish plays an important role in the marine food web and so potential impacts on the wider marine ecosystem must be monitored.

References

Deepwater Group, Auckland Islands Squid Fishery (SQU6T)

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Yellowfin sole

Limanda aspera

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands

Fishery countries:
U.S.
  • Bottom trawl

Certified

Well managed

Environmental Notes
  • This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species.
  • Bycatch for this fishery is considered low.
  • Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed.
General Notes

Caveat
The environmental notes for this fishery are based on a provisional assessment and are not derived from the FishSource profile.

References

MRAG Americas, 2015, MSC Public Certification Report for Bering Sea-Aleutian Islands Alaska Flatfish Fishery

Profile Download

ODP profiles from previous years are available to download as PDFs below.