Why traceability for canned fish is not mandatory, and why we do it anyway
As a consumer, you want to know what you're eating and where it comes from. Yet, canned fish doesn't always have to state which species it is, where it was caught, or how exactly that was done. Bizarre, right? For fresh fish, these rules in the EU are strict and clear. But as soon as fish is processed and ends up in a can, the legislation changes.
Why isn't this information mandatory?
Canned fish falls under the category of processed products. For these products, the law primarily focuses on food safety, correct ingredient labeling, and nutritional values. Information about species, fishing area, and fishing method is therefore not mandatory to state.
That feels strange, especially since precisely this data says a lot about sustainability, quality, and the impact on the ecosystem. The differences between species, for example, skipjack versus yellowfin tuna, are large, and the same applies to fishing areas and methods.
At Fish Tales, we choose full transparency
We believe you should be able to see what you eat and where it comes from. Not globally, but precisely. That's why, from the founding of Fish Tales, we go further than what the law requires.
For all our products:
- Full traceability right back to the fishery
- Information about which fishery is responsible for your fish
- Fishing methods with minimal bycatch, consciously chosen per species
- Direct contact with the fisheries we collaborate with Transparency is a fundamental condition for us.
Traceable to the source
Because our products are fully traceable, we know exactly which fishery each fish comes from. And we visit the fishery and then meet one of the fishermen! That makes it possible to honestly tell the story behind our fish.
Pilchard sardines from Cornwall
Our sardines are Pilchard sardines – these are sardines of the European sardine species (Sardina pilchardus) that swim in compact schools off the coast of Cornwall. In Newlyn, a small harbor town in southwest England, fishermen like David sail their ring net boats into the bay as evening falls.
With special lamps, the crew lures the sardines to the surface. When a school becomes visible, the ring net is deployed: like a basket, it closes around the compact school. Thanks to this natural behavior of the Pilchards, the catch is efficient, careful, and with minimal bycatch.
Because we work directly with this fishery, we know exactly:
- where the fish is caught (Cornwall)
- how this happens (small ring nets)
- Which fishery our fishermen come from
This information comes from direct collaboration. Want to know more about the fishery? Read more here!
Why this is important
Origin, species, and fishing method are crucial for the health of the ocean and the quality of what you eat. By sharing this information, consumers can consciously choose fisheries that operate carefully and deliver high-quality fish. As long as the law does not mandate this, we will continue to do it ourselves. Meanwhile, together with our cooperation partners, we are working to exert pressure on European Legislation to break open and amend these laws.
Yesterday, our Impact & Fisheries Manager Irene took this message to Brussels. At the invitation of Oceana, she joined two other organizations to make it clear to the European Commission's Oceans Unit that it is high time to close this outdated loophole in the law and enforce real, full traceability throughout the entire fisheries supply chain.
Because when information is missing, accountability disappears. And without accountability, our oceans have no future.
