Consumers have been taking action for marine wildlife through a competition launched by Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Great Dorset Seafood campaign. People were asked to recommend a Dorset seafood retailer or restaurant to join the campaign, which supports the marine environment by promoting responsible sourcing of seafood.
The Great Dorset Seafood Campaign seeks to improve the health and productivity of our seas by helping consumers make the right choices in seafood, working with retailers to source their seafood from low impact fisheries and well managed stocks and by providing information on the way marine species are caught in Dorset.
Hundreds of people joined in the competition, recommending seafood outlets from Lyme Regis to Mudeford. The competition winner was Jane Druce from Christchurch, who recommended Dorset Fish and Shellfish. Jane praised their “fantastic fresh fish and shellfish, caught and sold directly by the very enthusiastic and friendly fishermen, caught same day very locally off Dorset inshore coast, Christchurch to Lulworth. Very small business deserves some support”. Jane won a meal for two, kindly donated by the Urban Reef, Boscombe.
Emma Rance, Marine Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said: “We have been really pleased with the response from local people who clearly love their seafood but want to make the right choices for marine wildlife. By getting consumers and retailers behind the campaign, we really can make a difference to the state of our seas and help to ensure that there will be fish in the sea for generations to come. If your favourite seafood outlet has not joined our campaign, why not ask them about it?”
Visit the Great Dorset Seafood website for the list of retailers and restaurants who have signed up for the campaign and to find out which seafood you can choose sustainably in the Fish Guide, covering the range of fishing practices, management and the status of local fish stocks in Dorset.
For more information, please visit greatdorsetseafood.org.uk .
