Fish & Shellfish
Find out more about our approach to sourcing fish and shellfish
According to UN FAO, fish and shellfish is one of the largest traded food commodities in the world and provides sustenance to billions of people worldwide (around 3 billion people rely on both wild-caught and farmed seafood as their primary source of protein) and much needed economic benefits to coastal communities.
Since the development of modern technology in the fishing industry in the 1950s, there has been a significant impact on the marine environment and over-fishing has depleted stocks of many species, including Atlantic cod and bluefin tuna. Irresponsible fishing practices can also harm other sea life and waste millions of tonnes of non-target fish each year. Fish farming (aquaculture) is a young evolving industry and although it continues to bring many positive sustainability benefits and is now responsible for more than 50% of all seafood produced for human consumption, it has also, in some places, impacted coastal habitats, lakes and rivers through, amongst other things, disease management, excessive waste and mangrove clearance.
We have had a sustainable fish sourcing policy in place since 1997. Sourcing seafood responsibly, from well-managed fisheries and farms, helps safeguard our supply chains and aquatic ecosystems as well as the livelihoods of coastal communities.
Commitments and targets
We want to lead the retail sector in sustainable production and consumption, offering our customers the good value, high quality products and services they expect from M&S, while respecting planetary boundaries and the need for social equity. We recognise the integral role of animal health and welfare in sustainable food production and strive to continue progressing the highest welfare standards.
Our goal is to ensure that all wild-caught and farmed seafood, as well as aquafeed, come from the most responsibly managed sources.
Approach
Fish and shellfish are very important to M&S. We use about 60,000 tonnes of seafood (whole weight) annually with approximately two thirds wild caught and the remainder farmed. We source over 30 wild-caught species ranging from Atlantic cod, haddock, plaice and lemon sole to Orkney crab and cold water prawns, and ten farmed species (Atlantic salmon and organic salmon, rainbow trout, sea bass, sea bream, halibut, pangasius, mussels, farmed shrimp and oysters).
Our Seafood Sourcing Standard for Wild-Caught, Farmed Fish & Shellfish covers every single piece of M&S fish and shellfish on our shelves, be it farmed or wild, fresh or frozen, in a can, a sandwich or a ready meal. Find out more about where our wild-caught and farmed species are sourced from on our interactive sourcing map.
We have been working with WWF since 2004, initially on specific initiatives such as sustainable fishing and forestry. Then in January 2010, we became the first UK company to sign up to the WWF Seafood Charter. This commits M&S and WWF to work as partners to drive M&S’s supply chains towards responsible sourcing of sustainable seafood, and to take a leadership role in bringing improvement to fisheries and fish farming globally.
We are also a member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition, a cross-industry group in the UK using our influence as seafood businesses to tackle seafood sustainability issues since 2012. We are united in a vision for sustainable seafood and have pledged to work together to achieve this.
We have been widely recognised as a leader in providing more sustainable seafood. We were the first retailer to introduce a ‘pole and line’ only policy for skipjack tuna in 2009. We have topped the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS’s) Supermarket Seafood Survey each year (except one) it has run since it started in 2006. We’ve also consistently topped Greenpeace’s tinned tuna league table.
We are committed to providing a high level of transparency about our fish and seafood policies and the sustainability status of the species we sell. We communicate to our customers and the public via a number of channels including this website, in-store décor and on pack messages. Our seafood products which meet our strict criteria for responsibly farmed fish and responsibly caught wild fish are also eligible for a Plan A product attribute. In 2018/19, 87% of wild-caught fish and shellfish sourced for M&S products came from a Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) recognised third party certified source. In addition, 97.5% of farmed fish and shellfish sourced for M&S products came from third party certified sources. Find out more about our approach to product sustainability.
Our approach to sourcing the most responsible fish and seafood focuses on:
Establishing and maintaining clear minimum sourcing standards
Minimum Sourcing Principles
We have maintained an industry-leading sustainable seafood sourcing policy for over 15 years which adopts the following approach:
- Work with the best – wherever possible we aim to source from the most responsible sources
- Avoid the worst – we do not source any species that are:
- listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) or listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as ‘Endangered’ and ‘Critically Endangered’; or
- from fisheries and farms that do not meet our minimum criteria
- Invest in the rest – support the recovery and improvement of both wild-caught and farmed species through engagement and actively encouraging participation in Fishery and Aquaculture improvement Projects.
We are committed to achieving full traceability of all our seafood and aquafeed. Traceability checks are conducted frequently to make sure we are able to trace farmed species back to the farm that produced them, wild fish to at least the group of vessels that caught them, and aquafeed and its key ingredients back to the factories that manufactured them. We also carry out random testing of our seafood products to verify the species labelling, for example DNA analysis. Find out more about where our wild-caught species and farmed species are sourced from.
All species must be sourced in accordance with our non-GM Foods Policy and non-GM Foods Code of Practice (ie only non-GM ingredients and derivatives can be used).
We want to protect marine biodiversity and eliminate the trade of protected and endangered species. We also take measures to ensure that all of the seafood we source has been legally caught, landed and farmed and that the processes involved in catching or farming it have not damaged the marine or freshwater environment.
Our full requirements are set out in our Seafood Sourcing Standard for Wild-Caught, Farmed Fish & Shellfish which is orientated around a number of sourcing principles. These principles are communicated to our supply base and are incorporated into our supporting Codes of Practice and Guidelines. We are committed to implementing these principles and we verify supplier compliance.
Suppliers of fish and seafood products are also required to comply with our Technical Terms of Trade and our Global Sourcing Principles. Find out more about our approach to supplier management.
Wild-caught Seafood Standards
We aim to source wild-caught fish from the most responsible sources available.
Our preference is to source from any third party certification scheme that has been formally recognised by the GSSI. Where it is not possible to source from GSSI recognised certified sources (e.g. they are not available), WWF helps us select the most responsible fisheries to source from. In these instances, fisheries must be in a Fishery Improvement Project or in lieu of this be able to demonstrate that they have specific sustainability management measures in place. For example, all of our tuna must be line caught and all of our skipjack tuna is caught by pole and line. Fishing by line is proven to be more selective than other methods.
We have established clear requirements on marine protected areas, fish stocks, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fishery policy management, sourcing of endangered and threatened species and fishing gears.
We work with WWF to annually review the performance of our seafood species through sustainability analysis and evaluation on a species by species, supplier by supplier basis. Assessments are completed using the most up-to-date and publicly available information by specialist WWF staff or external technical advisers. All new wild fish species are required to be evaluated prior to being accepted by M&S based on the sustainability analysis. Find out more about our wild-caught seafood assessment methodology.
Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS)
Labour conditions in wild capture fisheries are difficult to observe and monitor. The very nature of the fishing industry means that workers carry out their duties beyond the scrutiny of normal business control mechanisms and therefore beyond the reach of standard due-diligence processes such as routine audit and inspection.
We are determined to do everything we can to bring fair sourcing principles to all stages of our supply chain, including fishing vessels. We have therefore made a commitment to the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), which provides tangible evidence that the seafood caught by a fishing boat has been responsibly caught and handled and the boat has the highest standards on crew welfare, fair pay, health and safety and human rights.
All fishing boats supplying Marks & Spencer to be certified by the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS) by 2021, or be actively engaged in a time bound plan to achieve RFS certification. This applies worldwide, however UK boats were required to gain the certificate or be actively engaged by the end of 2017.
M&S Select Farm Sourcing Standards - Farmed Seafood
Modern aquaculture is relatively new, is expanding quickly and globally now accounts for more than 50% of all seafood produced for human consumption. While it is critical to the future of sustainable seafood, the development of this industry continues to present environmental, social and technical challenges. These challenges are global but are very location specific. For example, fish farms can result in the discharge of chemicals used to disinfect production facilities or treat disease, and they can also have social and animal welfare impacts.
The following minimum standards exist across our entire farmed seafood supply chain:
- We require complete supply chain traceability
- As a minimum all our farms must meet at least one of the following standards: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certified, Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified, Global GAP Aquaculture Standard assured, Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certified, or RSPCA Assured. We’ve adopted these as our base standards in recognition of the fact that we source in different locations and markets around the world
- Compliance with our M&S Select Farm Sourcing Standards
Our aim is to be at the leading edge in all our aquaculture supply chains and support them in a process of continual improvement. We have developed Select Farm Sourcing Standards which are set out in species-specific Codes of Practice. These are our minimum standards and have been developed in collaboration with suppliers, industry experts and NGOs. They cover criteria such as site selection, environmental management, rearing of fish, fish health and welfare (including slaughter), the use of chemicals, waste disposal, employee welfare and broader community requirements.
All producers of farmed fish and seafood for M&S must be in full compliance with the relevant Select Farm Sourcing Standard.
We have currently developed five Select Farm Sourcing Standards on salmon, seabream & seabass, rainbow trout, mussels and farmed shrimp. We are developing standards for other farmed species including pangasius, halibut and oysters.
Find out more about where our farmed species are sourced from.
Ensuring good animal health and welfare
We are committed to ensuring that the highest standards of animal welfare are adhered to in all our supply chains.
We have a long-term partnership with FAI Farms who provide us with animal welfare knowledge and direction and are responsible for managing our independent data collection and supply chain research and outcome measures.
Our Select Farm Sourcing Standards have been designed to support our suppliers to meet our high standards on animal welfare. These are based upon the Five Freedoms recommended by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst
- Freedom from discomfort
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease
- Freedom to express normal behaviour
- Freedom from fear and distress
Our farms must be committed to rear, handle, transport and slaughter under conditions of minimum stress, with minimal environmental impact and with full regard to animal welfare. Each site must also have a Veterinary Health Plan in place.
We require all sites to have and implement a site-specific Predator Exclusion Plan which is based on risk assessment and includes the potential physical interactions with local marine/ freshwater and avian wildlife. Measures must prevent predator problems occurring. These plans are required to be reviewed annually.
Medication such as antibiotics must not be used to promote growth or as an alternative to good husbandry practices (ie prophylactic use). However, fish displaying clinical symptoms can be treated with appropriate veterinary supervision. The fish cannot be harvested before all traces have faded. As an added precaution, if fish have required treatment, a sample is taken to ensure no medicine remains in the fish at the time of harvest. None of our fish and seafood are permitted to be given hormones for growth promotion either.
Techniques for the harvesting and slaughter of farmed fish and seafood are evolving quickly. Methods used tend to be species specific and often depend on the size of the animals being harvested and slaughtered. We are committed to the adoption of best practice and to driving positive change in all our supply chains, with a common denominator being minimising stress and always with regard to good animal welfare.
We record welfare outcome measures for several species within our farmed fish supply chains. This data is collected on all M&S Select animals and independently collated by FAI Farms (see below).
Aquafeed standards
Most aquafeeds still contain some marine ingredients. The level varies depending on the nutritional needs of the species being farmed and it also reflects species specific-research and development in fish nutrition. Significant advances are continuously being made in bringing down the level of marine ingredients used in aquafeed. These are generally in the form of fishmeal and fish oil. A major driver behind the use of marine ingredients is maintaining a high health status of the species being farmed. Unfortunately, in some parts of the world the sourcing of these ingredients may result in environmental degradation, destructive fishing practices or human rights issues.
Our goal is to better understand the ingredients used within our aquafeeds and the impacts associated with these ingredients so that we can make informed decisions. We support research and initiatives aimed at improving the efficiency and sustainability of aquafeeds. For example, we commissioned some research in association with the Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) to look at the potential to use seaweed (macroalgae) and other microscopic algae (microalgae) as commercially viable sources of raw materials to feed fish.
We require all aquafeed fed to farmed aquatic animals that enter the M&S supply chain to be purchased from an M&S approved aquafeed manufacturer. These approved suppliers must comply with our Code of Practice for Aquafeed Manufacture. This specifies the standards, procedures and practices to be followed by approved suppliers in the manufacture of aquafeeds used in our supply chain.
We do offer some farmed species that don’t need any marine ingredients (eg pangasius) and others that don’t need any synthetic aquafeed (eg mussels).
Alternatives/non-marine ingredients
Alternative ingredients do exist but are not necessarily without issue. For example, soy is an important alternative to fishmeal but is classed as a forest risk commodity. And ingredients such as algae derived oils are not yet commercially viable and are of limited availability.
Agricultural crop ingredients, such as soy and palm oil, should be sourced from sources which do not contribute to deforestation. Find out more about our approach to soy and palm oil.
Marine ingredients
Marine ingredients used in the production of feed should be sourced from locations certified to the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation’s Standard for Responsible Supply (IFFO RS) or the MSC standard.
Where it is not possible to source certified marine ingredients, our suppliers must be able to demonstrate that they are working towards full traceability and compliance with our Seafood Sourcing Policy.
We also encourage the use of fishmeal and fish oil derived from fish trimmings rather than from whole fish.
Checking compliance with our standards
We have put appropriate assurance arrangements in place to check that our suppliers meet our requirements.
Wild-caught species
Our direct supplier (usually the final packer) is responsible for auditing the supply chain from fishery to final pack or from fishery to supply of raw material to final packer.
We set the standards and our third party auditor partners audit processing and manufacturing locations and perform spot checks of the wider supply chain to ensure consistency with our standards.
Farmed species – farms, hatcheries and aquafeed factories
Our direct supplier is responsible for undertaking the Select Farm Assurance and Code of Practice (Aquafeed Manufacture) audits to our standards. During 2018/19, our independent auditors performed a number of shadow audits and spot checks to ensure consistency with our standards. Find out more about our approach to M&S Select Farm Assurance audits.
Supporting programmes that further our understanding and build capacity within our supply chain
Forever Fish
Forever Fish was originally launched in 2011 as a 3 year initiative which aimed to encourage everyone to eat high-quality, responsibly sourced fish, as well as give something back to the seas we fish from. It started with the donation of profits from our 5p food bags to a fish fund which raised over £4 million. We also involved the wider community by teaming up with the Marine Conservation Society and WWF to support beach-cleaning events and marine conservation projects as well as providing schools with educational materials via our School of Fish initiative.
Following changes in legislation in relation to carrier bag charging, we have reviewed our approach and this initiative in its current guise has now come to an end. We’re now taking the opportunity to relaunch Forever Fish as the sister programme to our successful Farming for the Future programme. Find out more about Farming for the Future.
This refreshed programme still has marine conservation at its heart. It is our programme of activity in the world of fish and aquaculture that allows us to secure supply of an exceptional range of high quality seafood, sourced from fisheries and fish farms in a way that mitigates ethical, environmental and social risks, delivering a lasting legacy for our brand.
M&S Select Farm Salmon
Prior to 2006, farmed salmon was a challenging area for M&S as we were trying to address a number of sustainability issues raised by NGOs, ranging from pesticides used to control sea lice and contaminants in feed, through to welfare of the fish and discharges into the marine environment of excess food, untreated waste and escapes.
Our response was to take a systematic approach to address these multiple issues by specifying a production system and then applying it right across our supply chain.
So in 2007, production of all conventionally farmed salmon (fresh and ingredient) shifted to one producer and a number of dedicated farms, which meant that M&S improved its ability to apply and maintain strict standards. These farms ensured that fish were reared on an aquafeed diet unique to M&S, formulated for high omega-3 levels. All marine ingredients used in the production of feed are from fisheries certified to the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organisation’s Standard for Responsible Supply (IFFO RS) or the MSC.
These requirements are set out in our Select Farm Sourcing Standard for Atlantic salmon. All the farms are audited to these standards, enabling us to give our customers assurances about animal welfare, environmental protection, food safety and product quality. The fish husbandry methods used are also approved to RSPCA Assured standards, which is a leading welfare standard. The salmon produced in accordance with these standards are what we call M&S Select Farm Salmon.
By developing a production system and working with one producer, we were able to move from managing multiple issues to having a product with robust sustainability credentials that we are proud of and which is well recognised by our customers.
Outcome-based measures
NOTE: Measures are recorded on all harvests within the M&S fresh supply. Welfare outcome measures are captured at the time of depopulation and reported monthly. Environmental measures are collected annually. Where environmental 'outcome' measures are not currently available or practical to collect, 'input' measures are used in the interim (shown in italics).
In recent years there has been a shift away from focusing on systems and input standards towards also measuring and seeking to improve the impact of supply chains on the environment, ethics and economic elements of a production system.
We are currently developing sustainability outcome measures for aquaculture and we will use this information, alongside the latest science, to better understand the challenges we are facing together with our suppliers. This outcomes-based approach will allow our farms to pioneer their own solutions and innovations to make progress.
We have developed specific sustainability measures for certain farmed fish species including welfare measures and these are in the process of being rolled out across our supply base as follows:
Sustainability outcome measures for salmon, trout and sea bass/bream
| Category | Sustainability Measure |
| Welfare Measures | |
| Liveability | Percent (%) total mortality at end of production stage |
| Percent (%) mortality during transport | |
| Disease | Percent (%) fish with fin, skin and eye condition |
| Average condition factor | |
| Total number of treatments per cage | |
| Injury | Not available currently |
| Mobility | Not available currently |
| Behaviour | Total disturbances / crowding incidence during production |
| Maximum stocking density in cage | |
| Other | Transport time |
| Percent (%) ineffective stuns at first slaughter | |
| Environmental Measures | |
| Climate Change | Percent (%) total energy use from renewable source |
| Land System Change | Not available currently |
| Freshwater Use | Not applicable |
| Biodiversity | Measurement of benthic fauna presence on seabed at peak biomass (18-24m) |
| Sediment geochemistry evaluation of benthic impact | |
| Proportion (%) of fishery diet components from certified sustainable sources | |
| Escapee incidence at end of production stage | |
| Predator control implemented | |
| N and P Flows | Redox recordings in sediment at peak biomass |
| Chemical Pollution | Not available currently |
NOTE: Measures are recorded on all harvests within the M&S fresh supply. Welfare outcome measures are captured at the time of depopulation and reported monthly. Environmental measures are collected annually. Where environmental 'outcome' measures are not currently available or practical to collect, 'input' measures are used in the interim (shown in italics).
Sustainability outcome measures for shrimp
| Category | Sustainability Measure |
| Welfare Measures | |
| Liveability | Percent (%) total mortality at end of production stage |
| Disease | Percent (%) presence of damage and deformities indicative of disease |
| Most prevalent type of damage and deformities indicative of disease | |
| Total number of treatments per cage | |
| Mg/kg of medicines used per cage | |
| Injury | Percent (%) of post larva stocked/year sourced from non-ablated broodstock |
| Mobility | Not available currently |
| Behaviour | Not available currently |
| Other | Percent (%) of shrimp harvested in ice slurry <4oC |
| Environmental Measures | |
| Climate Change | Percent (%) total energy use from renewable source |
| Energy efficiency in usage per tonne of shrimp produced | |
| Land System Change | Proportion (%) of soy-based diet components from certified sustainable sources |
| Freshwater Use | Not applicable |
| Biodiversity | Percent (%) of fishery feed ingredients from a certified sustainable source |
| Percent (%) of fishery feed ingredients from trimmings | |
| N and P Flows | Total output of Nitrogen and Phosphorous per kg output of shrimp |
| Chemical Pollution | Percent (%) total waste routinely recycled |
We’re currently working with our partners to develop automated methods of data capture to ensure robust and independent outcome measure recording over time.
In 2017, we began to report on a number of animal health and welfare measures for farmed fish (see below).
We will publish our year-on-year performance against a more comprehensive set of outcome measures from 2022. We aim to use this data to shape future production standards and drive a continual improvement culture across our farm supply base.
Supporting market transformation through working with industry partners and other stakeholders
WWF partnership
As a signatory to WWF’s Seafood Charter, we are committed to work alongside civil society, the fishing industry, other businesses, government and local communities to safeguard marine wildlife, the natural environment and the livelihoods of those dependent on the oceans for their well-being.
Under the terms of the charter, WWF is supporting us to implement our sourcing policies (ensuring all new fish and seafood products come from the most sustainable sources), ensure traceability for all seafood products, and advocate for the reform of policy.
Protecting turtles in Fiji
In 2012, we helped fund WWF’s conservation programme in the Great Sea Reef (the third longest barrier reef in the world) in Fiji. This programme saw the introduction of new fishing practices helping to reduce the number of turtles caught accidently by 80%.
Managing UK sea use
For example, we sell fish caught in the seas around the UK and Ireland and know the importance of collaboration with all stakeholders in order to produce a sustainable supply of fish for the future. We’ve supported the LIFE+ Partnerships Involving Stakeholders in the Celtic Sea EcoSystem (PISCES) project which ran from 2009 to 2012, and the launch of the subsequent LIFE+ Celtic Seas Partnership project (which runs from 2012 to 2017). Both help bring about the sustainable management of the Celtic Seas, allowing biodiversity and natural habitats to recover.
Supporting Tanzanian coastal communities
We supported WWF’s long-term project to create a sustainable future for fishing communities in Rufiji, Mafia Island and Kilwa districts (RUMAKI seascape) in Tanzania, East Africa. WWF work with local people living along this coastline to improve management of coastal waters and fisheries and improve livelihoods through micro-finance.
EU Common Fisheries Policy advocacy
Our partnership helped deliver a historic vote in the European Parliament for the radical reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 2013. This saw the introduction of mandatory long-term management plans for all EU fisheries, involvement of stakeholders in these plans, and the application of the CFP principles to all fisheries in EU waters (including the Mediterranean) and to European vessels wherever they operate in the world’s oceans. The reforms also included a commitment to end overfishing and the wasteful practice of discarding.
Orkney Fishery Improvement Project
Also in 2013, M&S, Orkney Sustainable Fisheries Ltd, Orkney Fishermen’s Society, Marine Scotland, Scottish National Heritage, Crown Estate, Orkney Islands Council, MSC, WWF and local fishermen launched the first brown crab Fishery Improvement Project. The fishery harvests a significant portion (30-40%) of the total Scottish brown crab catch, providing an important source of income for the many fishermen whose livelihoods depend on it being sustainably sourced.
Blue Marine Foundation
BLUE is a UK registered charity set up in 2010 by some of the team behind the award-winning documentary film The End of the Line. We’ve been supporting BLUE’s work since 2012.
As part of our relationship with BLUE, we supported the Lyme Bay Fisheries and Conservation Reserve to engage small-scale fisheries in conserving a globally significant ‘coral garden’ in Dorset and safeguard the local fishing economy and community.
More recently, we provided funding for BLUE’s Solent project which aims to develop a shared vision among local stakeholders to restore and eventually re-configure the management of the native oyster fishery (which collapsed and closed in 2013).
Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI)
We are a founding Partner of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI), whose mission is to ensure confidence in the supply and promotion of certified seafood, as well as to promote improvement in seafood certification schemes.
Our preference is to source wild-caught fish and shellfish from a source that has been independently certified to a GSSI recognised scheme.
Sustainable Seafood Coalition
We are a founding member of the Sustainable Seafood Coalition that was established in 2011 as a UK cross-industry group using our influence as seafood businesses to drive change tackling seafood sustainability issues.
The coalition has drafted two codes of conduct which aim to contribute to its vision that all fish and seafood sold in the UK is from sustainable sources. These are:
- Environmental Claims (Labelling Code) – supports labelling of fish and seafood in a harmonised way, adhering to minimum criteria and controlled on pack claims on responsibility and sustainability
- Environmentally Responsible Fish and Seafood Sourcing (Sourcing Code) – this covers two main areas: general good practice and a commitment to do a risk assessment.
We began implementing the requirements of these Codes during 2015.
Performance summary
Key performance measures
We're committed to reporting on our use of animal welfare and environmental outcome-indicators. In 2017, we began to report on a number of key measures for farmed fish below:
Farmed fish supply
Measures | Fresh | Ingredient | ||||||
2015/16 | 2016/17 | 20171 | 2018 | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 20171 | 2018 | |
Proportion (%) of fin fish that are fin-clipped | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Proportion (%) of fish pre-stunned prior to slaughter | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
1 Covers the 2017 calendar year period, i.e. January to December. Previous years data reported on a financial year basis, i.e. April to March
Farmed stocking densities (these are maximum figures):
| M&S Select Farm Atlantic Salmon | 17 kg/m3 | Halbut | 50 kg/m2 |
| Organic salmon | 10 kg/m3 | Turbot | 50 kg/m2 |
| Rainbow trout (sea cage reared) | 17 kg/m3 | Pangasius | 40 kg/m3 |
| Rainbow trout (freshwater cage reare) | 17 kg/m3 | Farmed shrimp (extensively farmed) | <5 shrimp / m2 |
| Sea bass | 20 kg/m3 | Farmed shrimp (semi-intensively farmed) | <50 shrimp / m2 |
| Sea bream | 20 kg/m3 | Farmed shrimp (intensively farmed) | <200 shrimp / m2 |
Farmed fish transport times from harvest to slaughter:
| Species | Time | Species | Time |
| M&S Select Farm Salmon | Mix of dead haul and live haul:
| Sea bream | Slaughtered on site |
| Organic salmon (Scotland) | Slaughtered on site | Halibut | Live transport maximum time up to 2 hours from farm to factory |
| Organic salmon (Norway) | Live transport max 5 hours from farm to factory | Turbot | Slaughtered on site |
| Rainbow Trout | Slaughtered on site | Pangasius | 5 hours from farm to factory |
| Sea bass | Slaughtered on site | Farmed shrimp | Slaughtered on site |
NOTE: The transport times for farmed scallops and mussels through the supply chain is likely to exceed 8 hours.
All of our M&S Select Farm salmon and trout are also RSPCA Assured.
We will publish our year-on-year performance against a more comprehensive set of outcome measures from 2020. We aim to use this data to shape future production standards and drive a continual improvement culture across our farm supply base.
Working with others
Listening, learning, responding and working in partnership are an important part of how we do business.
We’re working closely with WWF on various initiatives to promote sustainable seafood and are signatory to a major global Seafood Charter overseen by WWF. We are also founding members of the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative and Sustainable Seafood Coalition.
We are represented on the Seafish Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS) Oversight Board and are the retail representation on Project UK (previously Project Inshore). We are active participants in a number of Fisheries Improvement Projects (e.g. Philippine yellowfin tuna, Asosiasi Perikanan Pole and Line and Hand Line Indonesia (AP2HI), Orkney brown crab, Canadian cod).
Key documents
