Latest news from Edinburgh Fish City.
Edible Edinburgh Partnership is delighted to be launching the Edinburgh Fish City project with marine conservation charity Open Seas to help connect seafood suppliers and fishermen with local consumers who want to buy fish locally and sustainably.
Using an online hub and network, the project seeks to put businesses in touch with an alternative market due to the impact of Covid-19 on seafood exports and reduced demand from the food service sector.
The Edible Edinburgh Partnership, chaired by Councillor George Gordon, is focused on bringing sustainable seafood to Edinburgh as part of its ambition to help drive a shift towards healthier and more sustainable food in the city. The partnership is working towards the Sustainable Food Places Silver Award, which includes building public awareness of food issues and encouraging widespread participation in food-related activity.
Being part of the campaign is a way for businesses to become part of Edinburgh’s good food movement, connect with the city’s wider sustainable food network and find opportunities to connect with other businesses and customers. The project also aims to highlight the health benefits of fresh fish and seafood and further protect our already fragile environment.
Councillor George Gordon said: “This campaign should allow our communities to obtain fresh and sustainable fish at affordable prices and I would encourage all retailers to join the campaign. We were very proud last year to be the recipient of the Sustainable Food City Bronze Award, which highlights the use of fresh fruit and veg on behalf of the partnership and the City of Edinburgh Council, and this campaign builds on that work.
“Our partnership comprises of local and national bodies, community groups, organisations and service providers who have a common goal to ensure that the citizens of Edinburgh have access to good, nutritious, quality food at affordable prices, which benefits physical and mental health. Individuals, businesses and organisations all have a role to play in contributing towards Edinburgh’s growing movement of active food citizenship”.
Phil Taylor of Open Seas said: “The Covid-19 crisis has meant that fishermen have lost much of their foreign seafood market, but also that consumers are looking to support food producers close to home. This project aims to promote businesses sourcing locally and with true sustainability at their heart. If you are looking to support those fishermen who are working sustainably, and buy seafood with known provenance, have a look at the businesses listed on the site and treat yourself to some of our greatest seafood offerings.”
Businesses that sign up to the campaign commit to the Edinburgh Fish City pledge, agreeing to detailing the place where all their seafood was caught and the method for catching it. They also agree to promote more sustainable types of seafood, and to stop selling seafood rated as ‘red’ by the Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide. It’s a way for consumers to be able to make more informed choices and know that the seafood they’ve chosen is better for the planet.
Lawrie McFarlane of Belhaven Lobster, one of the first businesses to sign up to the pledge said: “Belhaven Lobster are delighted to be joining the Edinburgh Fish City project. We strongly believe that we have some of the world’s finest seafood on our doorstep and the best way to protect these stocks for future generations is to promote the sale of strictly sustainably caught shellfish. Projects such as this cannot only promote the sustainability of the fishing industry but also connect it to local businesses therefore reducing the carbon footprint associated with shipping produce overseas.”
All suppliers are listed on the website’s sustainable seafood directory, so consumers can see who has signed up to the pledge and can contact them directly to buy. Businesses that want to get involved can contact Caroline Rye Edinburgh Fish City Coordinator caroline@edinburghfishcity.co.uk or visit the Edinburgh Fish Cities website www.edinburghfishcity.co.uk for more information.