Towards the Introduction of Sustainable Fishery Products: The Bid of a Major Italian Retailer

Sara Bonanomi, Alessandro Colombelli, Loretta Malvarosa, Maria Cozzolino and Antonello Sala
Additional contact information
Sara Bonanomi: Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
Alessandro Colombelli: Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy
Loretta Malvarosa: NISEA-Fisheries and Aquaculture Economic Reserarch, Via Irno 11, 84135 Salerno, Italy
Maria Cozzolino: NISEA-Fisheries and Aquaculture Economic Reserarch, Via Irno 11, 84135 Salerno, Italy
Antonello Sala: Institute of Marine Sciences (ISMAR), Italian National Research Council (CNR), Largo Fiera della Pesca 1, 60125 Ancona, Italy

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-8

Abstract: Intense fishing pressure has been depleting marine resources worldwide. At a time when almost a third of world stocks are overexploited, the demand for fish and seafood is growing both due to the increasing world population and to rising per capita consumption. Over the past few decades, the demand for fish products has in turn grown considerably in Italy, although concern about sustainable fisheries here is not perceived as keenly as in Northern European countries, where certified fish and seafood products coming from sustainable fisheries are widely available. In this study, 248 fish and seafood products sold by a major Italian retailer were evaluated in terms of geographic origin, gear used, species conservation status, and stock status to gain information in view of the introduction of sustainable fishery products in Italy’s outlets. A literature review illustrated that most species came from some of the most intensely exploited fishing grounds in the world, where they are usually caught by trawls. The results highlighted the importance of supplying seafood products coming from sustainable sources and fisheries through the adoption of eco-labels and certification schemes. Finally, the present study stresses the urgency to promote more responsible fish and seafood consumption in Italy.

Keywords: seafood; Italy; retailer; sustainability; certification (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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