After watching Channel 4 News tonight (Thursday) I have posted this with no alterations
Message to our customers
A few weeks ago, we were contacted by Channel 4's news team who wanted to do a story on organic standards for cod. We immediately invited them to Shetland to view our operation and to look at how we are dealing with the challenges of aquaculture.
For those of you who are not aware, there are approximately 16 organisations in the UK which can certify a product as "organic". At present the Soil Association believes that the use of light in the rearing of fish is "not organic" whilst the Organic Food Federation (they certify NO CATCH) and DEFRA (the Government body that is in charge UK organic standards) believes that it "is organic". From our point of view, our greatest concern is for the welfare of the fish. We have been working with the RSPCA for approximately 3 years on the use of light in rearing cod. Its view has already been posted here, however it's at the bottom of the email if you want to look again.
We knew we were in for a rough ride early on when we suggested to Channel 4 that they should speak to the RSPCA to get an independent view on the cod's welfare. They said that they didn't want to "cloud the issue".
We have never shied away from a debate, we just wanted it to be fair and balanced.
The Channel 4 team spent a lot of time with me in Shetland and I was happy that they had left with all the facts - including footage of me proudly holding our SOIL ASSOCIATION SILVER AWARD FOR BEST NEW ORGANIC PRODUCT.(please click here to view our certificate)
Confused? So are we!
However, today, I woke to find a story in the Daily Mail describing our cod as being held in "horrific" conditions. Apparently, the Channel 4 news publicity machine had provided the Daily Mail with an "exclusive". The Daily Mail quoted a lady called Catherine Fookes - they certainly left anyone with the impression that she was specifically commenting on our cod.
So we rang her. No, she wasn't commenting about us, she has never visited our site or Shetland and by her own admission is "no expert on fish". She has no idea how we use light. She is absolutely right to raise concerns regarding fish welfare - it's what we do every day.
Channel 4 News ran the story on the lunchtime report today. They ran an interview with the Soil Association. Strangely, the footage featuring Julian Wade for the Organic Food Federation who certify NO CATCH was left on the cutting room floor.
We are waiting to see what happens tonight at 7pm. We hope the piece is more balanced.
On a positive note we have been inundated by people offering their support for what we are doing. From smaller suppliers (thanks Ian Keith Smith at Chandos Deli in Bristol!) right through to the Marine Conservation Society and Friends of the Sea (the nice people who certify tuna as dolphin free).
NO CATCH...JUST COD is sustainable and organic and we are proud of our approach to the welfare of the cod, the environment and to our customers.
Thank you to everyone for their messages of support. What we need to do is to urge the Soil Association and the media to engage in an intelligent debate that really examines all the issues. Resorting to sound grabs will get us nowhere.
Karol Rzepkowski - Managing Director
Please email me at karolr@johnsonseafarms.com
WHAT DO THE RSPCA THINK ABOUT USING LIGHT IN COD FARMING?
John Avizienius, Senior Scientific Officer, RSPCA The RSPCA is considering the welfare implications of using artificial lighting patterns (photoperiods) to alter fish development and growth. Currently there appears to be relatively little knowledge about the effect of these extended lighting patterns on the welfare of the fish, but in some cases there appears to be potential welfare advantages. For example, providing artificial lighting in sea enclosures can reduce early maturation and the concomitant physiological stresses associated with such a process.
The RSPCA will be conducting more detailed investigations into this issue, but in the interim, we are satisfied that having viewed cod at sea sites using cold cathode ray lights, we could not see any evidence of the lighting compromising the welfare of the fish, whereas when we viewed fish who had not been subjected to a lighting regime, the evidence suggested that the welfare of these fish had been compromised due to the maturation process.If it comes to light that the welfare of the fish is being compromised by the use of prolonged lighting patterns, then the RSPCA would not allow them to be used within their own standards when they are developed.
WHAT THE MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY SAY ABOUT US:
The farming of cod is in its infancy and as such there is much to be learnt from the experiences being gained through the development of Johnson Sea Farms Organic cod. The Marine Conservation Society trusts that Johnson Sea Farms will learn from and apply the experience gained to continually improve its farming process. We are encouraged by Johnson Sea Farms efforts to minimise their environmental impact and will continue to work with them to develop environmentally sustainable farming practices.
ORGANIC FOOD FEDERATION COD STANDARDS - response from DEFRA
These private standards were considered and agreed by experts within the department, and the Advisory Committee on Organic Standards. We continue to work with the private standards currently in existence covering the various issues relating to this type of farming including animal welfare and environmental standards. We will be working hard at EU level to establish a legal framework in 2009 when the new organic regulations come into effect.
I have sent a message of support to No Catch
Posted by: Andrew 
