Danish supermarkets to drop unsustainable shrimps from Asia

Large warm water prawns, often called tiger shrimp or tiger prawns, are one of the most popular frozen seafoods in Denmark. Some 5,000 tonnes of the tasty crustaceans were imported in 2012, many of which were reared under questionable circumstances.

Photo: Fisheries Department, Thailand
Photo: Fisheries Department, Thailand

But, starting in mid-April, all prawns sold in shops operated by Dansk Supermarked, including Netto, Bilka and Føtex stores, will be certified by the WWF’s Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC).

“That means that the conditions under which the prawns are produced are monitored by an independent third party,” Dansk Supermarked spokesperson Helene Regnell told Politiken newspaper.

The ASC is an initiative of the WWF, and is recognised as the most sustainable certification of fish and seafood farms.

Prawn farmers in Southeast Asia have only recently started to meet the requirements for the certificate, which include restricting the use of antibiotics, avoiding stressed and sick crustaceans coming in contact with wild populations and limiting the consumption of fresh water and energy.

The production of tiger prawns occurs primarily in marsh and coastal areas in Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Thailand. The methods used by producers have been under attack for several years.

Read more: Copenhagen Post

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