Skate in Supermarkets

[Lou]

This comes from my mum, whi called for the store manager in her local Morrisons supermarket after finding very small skate wings for sale on the fish counter.

Apparently there was a large wing, but the majority of the wings for sale we about the size of an your hand. They were obviously not skate either, but ray. Now it is common and accepted to sell various types of ray under the name skate, on the logic that this is what the customers understand, but there is a size limit on them.

When the manager saw the wings and my mum explained to him that these were likely to have come from rays undersized and that had not yet had a chance to breed he understood her concerns and called the national buyer. He was informed that they came from local fishermen who said that each fish landed was checked at the dock for size (ahem!) but after some discussion the national buyers have agreed to investigate further. These "skate wings" were also confirmed to be from thornback rays.

When mum spoke to me about this I suggested she speak with the Shark Trust so she gave them a phone. It appears that this is something that they had already been discussing and are now considering action such as printing a template of minimum size for wings to be featured int heir next magazine. This will allow shoppers to monitor supermarkets and ensure that what they sell is legal and sustainable.

So, keep an eye out at your local supermarket or fishmongers and if you see very small wings challenge it and ensure that the manager actions it with the national buyers - if they know they are being watched they should be more careful with what they buy!

Lou

[Adrian Kelland]

Lou, please pass on the green to your Mum.

Adrian

[Fiona]

Yep, well done Lou's Mum and honourary green

I have a look at the fish counter when I am in Tesco's and always think the skate wings are quite small, next time I will tell them so.

[resting rifleman]

not so big as this one DSC02043.JPGthen, she went back within moments! and swam happily away with a goodly portion of ragworm to fuel her next hunt.

[David A]

Well done to your mum, and well done to the store manager for actually listening!

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by resting rifleman

not so big as this one then, she went back within moments! and swam happily away with a goodly portion of ragworm to fuel her next hunt.

Looks more like an ungulate to me....

Or a blond...

Defo not thornback.

Undersize rays have been hammered for years. Shame - skate in black butter...mmmm..

Chris

[resting rifleman]

she's a blonde of about 10lb.

[Andy the Coastie]

Originally Posted by resting rifleman

she's a blonde of about 10lb.

Bet this is the only time you have had a good looking blonde in ya grubby little mitts

[bubs]

Will be defintely keeping an eye for this when shopping, however am unsure what size is considered small compared with an okay size- could someone please advise e.g basic length/ width

cheers

[resting rifleman]

Originally Posted by Andy the Commie

Bet this is the only time you have had a good looking blonde in ya grubby little mitts

there have been one or two andy, had a couple bouncing on my knee earlier then they went to bed , peace riegns in the marsh house and all is well in my world.