French retailer Les Mousquetaires has partnered with Pêcheurs d'Opale and Groupe Le Garrec to develop a new aquaculture cooperative, Scopale.
Scopale will finance the construction of fishing vessels in the form of joint ownership with local fishermen. For each boat, costing about €2.5 million, fishermen or local fishing collectives will contribute one third of the budget and Scopale the other two thirds.
Created in 2015 in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Scopale is owned by Scapêche (40%), Pêcheurs d'Opale (40%) and Groupe Le Garrec (20%). It had already developed three 19.20 meter vessels at the Manche Industrie Marine (Dieppe) and Padmos (Netherlands) shipyards.
French Fishing
According to the retailer, Scopale allows young French fishermen to start their own business.
"It is of great satisfaction to us that we can lend our support the fishing sector in Boulogne-sur-Mer. And above all, we are proud to participate in the renewal of the French fleet and the maintenance of the fishing rights acquired in France", said Sylvain Pruvost, CEO of Scapêche.
Responsible Approach
Les Mousquetaires says that the move comes as part of its 2025 sustainable seafood goals, with the aim to adapt its entire fleet over ten years to stop the targeted fishing of large species by fishing species whose stocks are in good health.
Establishing partnerships with artisanal fishermen, such as Scopale in Boulogne-sur-Mer and Scapak in Brittany, as well as buying and processing ships, are part of this diversification strategy.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Solene Main. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
