Every year at around this time, activist group Greenpeace produces an annual report critiquing sustainability practices of American retailers, and this year the National Fisheries Institute (NFI) is speaking out in advance of the anticipated report with a critique of its own.
The NFI is asking the media and the public to challenge Greenpeace’s report, which NFI called “unscientific.”
“Rather than take active part in discussions with governmental leaders, industry representatives and conservation groups, Greenpeace representatives instead demonstrate outside these meetings, often dressed up as cartoonish sea creatures,” NFI’s statement read. “Does Greenpeace expect that experts in sustainability or the public itself should take seriously any points raised by activists dancing in plushy costumes?”
The NFI’s statement argued that Greenpeace does not properly document its study, calling for readers of its report to question that.
“Greenpeace refuses to reveal the methodology used in its grocers survey. Yet academic and research organizations routinely open their methodologies to scrutiny,” NFI said in its statement. “What are Greenpeace activists hiding?”
The NFI accused Greenpeace of not considering the health and economic impact of urging people to eat less seafood.
“What kind of environmental impact studies has Greenpeace done on its recommended sourcing methods?” NFI asked. “What kind of economic impact studies has Greenpeace done on how it would raise the cost of, for instance, canned tuna for consumers?”
