Greenpeace launched on Tuesday a Web site accusing Costco Wholesale Corp. of a “lack of transparency” in labeling seafood.
Greenpeace said Costco markets itself as a supporter of sustainable seafood but sells 15 of the 22 seafood species listed “red,” or at risk of extinction, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Those species include Chilean sea bass and orange roughy.
Calls to Costco were not immediately returned.
Oh-no-costco.com displays a video mocking the company’s practices and information on the campaign. It also urges consumers to take action by sharing the Web site on Twitter or Facebook and by sending a message to the company.
Costco is one of 20 seafood retailers in Greenpeace’s sustainable seafood guide, “Carting Away the Oceans.”
First they build on Kiddieland and now this!
What?! The Greenpeace “lefties” are upset at Costco’s seafood sales? Makes me want to rush right over to the store and stock up!
Now I’m doubly-glad I buy my seafood from Costco. Lower cost and it makes Greenpeace mad!
Greenpeace is a joke. They commit crimes claiming to protect the environment. Don’t expect others to follow the rules when you don’t.
As an economist in training, I’m not against the spreading of information about sales of endangered fish — it’s correcting for a market failure of imperfect information. If a consumer knows that the fish they’re about to buy is endangered, then they can make an informed decision about whether or not to buy it. From there the market can respond to reduced demand by supplying less, and everybody is better off — including those of you who want to continue to eat Chilean sea bass and orange roughy.