Bid to ease battered cod stocks

Independent contract caterer Charlton House has announced a ban on the sale of cod from all outlets in a bid to help protect the endangered fish.

David Cavalier, food innovations director for Charlton House's 124 contracts, told Caterer he hoped this move would put pressure on the other big contract caterers to follow suit. "This move alone won't have a great impact, but cod supplies are drastically short, and it takes someone with guts to make this move as we sell thousands of portions of cod and chips on a Friday," said Cavalier. "But if we do it, it will make a small inroad, and hopefully the other big boys will follow, which would help allow cod stocks to recover."

European agriculture and fisheries commissioner Franz Fischler has already estimated that it could take up to 10 years for cod stocks to recover to sustainable fishing levels.

The cod-free policy will start at the end of next month.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 20 January 2005