Shops stay true to pollock
Fish and chip shops have said they will not be following supermarket chain Sainsbury's lead and renaming pollock to Colin.
Huw Jones, owner of Finnegan's in Porthcawl, says: "I can't really see it achieving anything. People will eat what they like regardless of the name. If anything it might make it more confusing as it sounds like coley."
The move by Sainsbury's is part of its nationwide campaign to address dwindling cod stocks by making pollock more appealing to UK consumers and encouraging the British public to try it. Alison Austin, environment manager, Sainsbury's, says: "At Sainsbury's we're passionate about sustainable sourcing and protecting dwindling fish stocks. If we buy as much 'Colin' in the UK as the French do, it could make a massive difference to saving cod."
However, Seafish, the authority on seafood, said they would still encourage consumers to eat cod with confidence since 92% of the cod eaten in the UK is imported from sustainable stocks sourced mainly from Iceland. The industry has been working hard to safeguard cod stocks in the North Sea and fishermen were rewarded with a 30% increase in the catch allowance at the European quota negotiations in December.
Lorna Jack, market analyst with Seafish, says: "Less attractive names may deter consumers from purchasing fish, however, we will be interested to see if this change of name increases sales of pollock since 'Colin' is perhaps not the easiest replacement name."
