Ocean Disclosure Project

Joseph Robertson

Located in the heart of the Aberdeen fishing community, Joseph Robertson has one of the most modern fish manufacturing sites in the UK. The company specialises in secondary food processing and is one of the largest independent value-added seafood manufacturers in the UK, supplying a range of products to major retailers across the country. In addition, the company also has product ranges through its ‘Swankies’ brand. Core product lines include coated fillets, traditional fishcakes, melting centre fishcakes and hand-crafted meal solutions.

Number of Fisheries Used	Number of Fisheries Well Managed	Number of Fisheries Managed	Number of fisheries in need of improvement	Profile not yet complete
Number of Fisheries Used 19	Number of Fisheries Well Managed 17	Number of Fisheries Managed 0	Number of fisheries in need of improvement 1	Profile not yet complete 1
Fishing Methods Used in Associated Fisheries Midwater trawl Bottom trawl Purse seine Seine nets Gillnets and entangling nets Hook and line Longlines Handlines and pole-lines Pots and traps

Summary

A family business born in the Granite City, Joseph Robertson proudly boasts a fourth generation of family ownership, committed to sourcing ethically sustainable raw material and supplying the very best quality, best value products possible. We aim to source all our seafood from responsibly managed fisheries and farms. As a complex business with a wide range of raw materials and products we work hard to ensure that Product Development, Purchasing and Compliance have an input on every purchasing decision to achieve this.

Joseph Robertson wants its customers to have full confidence when buying our products, and to know that we share and believe in the commitment to having responsible sourcing at the heart of our company core values. When sourcing new products, Joseph Robertson always aims to source from certified fisheries that adhere to internationally recognised standards. This gives us assurance and transparency, supported by traceability throughout the Chain of Custody. 99% of our products meet this criterion and we are working hard to bring the remainder up to these standards. Where we are unable to source from a certified fishery, we prioritise fisheries that are considered managed or are making improvements. To ensure traceability of those fisheries which haven’t been certified, they are assessed in accordance with our internal procedure prior to introduction to our supply chain.

In addition to sourcing certified wild fish and farmed fish, Joseph Robertson supports the Responsible Fishing Scheme, a standard for crew welfare and responsible catching practices on board fishing vessels, contacting the supply chain to express our support and working alongside them to take steps towards certification.

As a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition (SSC), a partnership of UK businesses working together to support sustainable seafood, Joseph Robertson upholds the SSC Codes of Conduct on seafood sourcing and environmental claims. All our fish is responsibly sourced and all own label products comply with the SSC Labelling Code. Collaboration with suppliers is a key part of our education work, which generates change in the supply chain and within the business.

Joseph Robertson was the first UK seafood supplier to participate in the Ocean Disclosure Project, sharing our first profile in 2016. We expect other manufacturers to follow our lead. This profile covers all wild-caught seafood sourced in 2018.

http://www.josephrobertson.co.uk/ http://www.josephrobertson.co.uk/supply-chain.php

Associated Fisheries

Species and Location	Production Methods	Certification or Improvement Project	Sustainability Ratings
Species and Location Alaska pollock Theragra chalcogramma Aleutian Islands, E Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska Fishery countries: United States	Production Methods Midwater trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended NOAA FSSI 4 NOAA FSSI 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 4
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.
Species and Location Alaska pollock Theragra chalcogramma Sea of Okhotsk Fishery countries: Russia	Production Methods Midwater trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Atlantic cod Gadus morhua Barents Sea Fishery countries: Norway, Russia	Production Methods Bottom trawl Seine nets Gillnets and entangling nets Longlines	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
Environmental Notes This fishery is unlikely to impact 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. Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. Measures including protected areas, mapping and avoidance initiatives are in place to reduce fishery interactions with sensitive habitat. General Notes No additional notes.
Species and Location Atlantic cod Gadus morhua Icelandic Fishery countries: Iceland	Production Methods Bottom trawl Seine nets Gillnets and entangling nets Longlines Handlines and pole-lines	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
Environmental Notes This fishery is unlikely to impact 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 Catch from this fishery is covered by Icelandic Responsible Fisheries Management Certification. More information is available here.
Species and Location Edible crab Cancer pagurus Orkney Fishery countries: United Kingdom	Production Methods Pots and traps	Certification or Improvement Project Not certified or in a FIP	Sustainability Ratings Good Fish Guide Think 3 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Barents Sea Fishery countries: Norway	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5
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 No additional notes.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Barents Sea Fishery countries: Norway	Production Methods Longlines	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Barents Sea Fishery countries: Norway	Production Methods Seine nets Gillnets and entangling nets Hook and line	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Barents Sea Fishery countries: Russia	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5
Environmental Notes This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species. Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. An MSC condition is in place for retained species. Bottom trawls will directly impact on the sea bed. An MSC condition is in place to understand and minimize the impact of the fishery on the seabed. General Notes No additional notes.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Barents Sea Fishery countries: Russia	Production Methods Longlines	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
Environmental Notes This fishery is unlikely to impact PET species. Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. An MSC condition is in place for retained species. This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed. General Notes No additional notes.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Icelandic Fishery countries: Iceland	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Icelandic Fishery countries: Iceland	Production Methods Seine nets	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Icelandic Fishery countries: Iceland	Production Methods Longlines	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Think 3 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Northern shelf Fishery countries: United Kingdom	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 2 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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.
Species and Location Haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus Northern shelf Fishery countries: United Kingdom	Production Methods Seine nets	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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. This fishery is unlikely to have a significant impact on the sea bed. General Notes As a mixed fishery, the effects of management measures on other species need to be considered within an ecosystem context.
Species and Location Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus South Minch, North Minch Fishery countries: United Kingdom	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Not certified or in a FIP	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Needs Improvement FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Avoid Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Think 3 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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 No additional notes.
Species and Location Pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Alaska Fishery countries: United States	Production Methods Purse seine Gillnets and entangling nets	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Good Fish Guide Best Choice 1 Best Choice 2 Think 3 Think 4 Improver 5 Avoid 5 Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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 References Intertek Moody Marine, 2013, MSC Public Certification Report for Alaska Salmon Fishery.
Species and Location Pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Russia - Iturup Island Sakhalin Fishery countries: Russia	Production Methods Pots and traps	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Ocean Wise Not recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended
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 References SCS Global Services, 2015, MSC Public Certification Report for Iturup Pink & Chum Salmon Fisheries
Species and Location Yellowfin sole Limanda aspera Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Fishery countries: United States	Production Methods Bottom trawl	Certification or Improvement Project Certified	Sustainability Ratings FishSource Well Managed FishSource Well Managed Managed Needs Improvement Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Best Choice Good Alternative Avoid Ocean Wise Recommended Ocean Wise Recommended Not recommended NOAA FSSI 4 NOAA FSSI 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 4
Environmental Notes Of protected, endangered or threatened species, this fishery interacts with big skate (Raja binoculata). Bycatch for this fishery is considered low. Bottom trawls will directly impact the sea bed. General Notes References Seafood Watch, Yellowfin sole, United States (Alaska), Northwest / Northeast Pacific Ocean, Bottom trawls, Marine Stewardship Council Certified BSAI and GOA flatfish

Profile Download

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

Joseph Robertson

Number of Fisheries Used

Number of Fisheries Well Managed

Number of Fisheries Managed

Number of fisheries in need of improvement

Profile not yet complete

Number of Fisheries Used

19

Number of Fisheries Well Managed

17

Number of Fisheries Managed

0

Number of fisheries in need of improvement

1

Profile not yet complete

1

Fishing Methods Used in Associated Fisheries

Summary

Associated Fisheries

Species and Location

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Sustainability Ratings

Notes

Species and Location

Alaska pollock

Theragra chalcogramma

Aleutian Islands, E Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska

Fishery countries:

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Certified

Sustainability Ratings

FishSource

FishSource

Seafood Watch

Seafood Watch

Good Fish Guide

Good Fish Guide

Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise

NOAA FSSI

NOAA FSSI

Environmental Notes

General Notes

Species and Location

Alaska pollock

Theragra chalcogramma

Sea of Okhotsk

Fishery countries:

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Certified

Sustainability Ratings

FishSource

FishSource

Seafood Watch

Seafood Watch

Good Fish Guide

Good Fish Guide

Ocean Wise

Ocean Wise

Environmental Notes

General Notes

Species and Location

Atlantic cod

Gadus morhua

Barents Sea

Fishery countries:

Production Methods

Certification or Improvement Project

Certified

Sustainability Ratings

FishSource

FishSource

Seafood Watch

Seafood Watch

Good Fish Guide

Good Fish Guide

Ocean Wise