The UK relies heavily on Nordic countries for supplies of cod, taking just 7% of its 170,000 tonnes/year requirement from the depleted stocks of the North and Irish Seas. The WWF has placed cod on its list of endangered species and the EU recently placed a short-term ban on fishing in certain areas of the North Sea in an effort to help stocks recover. Environmentalists and many scientists fear that this is too little, too late' and say that the North Sea is in a similar position to the Canadian Grand Banks, where the fishery closed in 1992 with the loss of 40,000 jobs and remains closed to this day. One solution to the supply problem is to farm cod, but the industry is in its infancy. Current production volumes for Norway, Canada and the UK combined amount to some 400 tonnes, but farmers predict that the UK could be producing around 4,000 tonnes by 2004 and the Norwegians 10,000 tonnes. Awareness of healthy eating is opening up a new market for fish in pre-prepared barbecue style meals, according to Marr Foods which has created a new range that will be promoted in consumer magazines this summer. "Consumers are increasingly looking for new and exciting foods to cook outside and are going for pre-prepared fish as a healthy alternative to traditional meat products," says sales and marketing director Steve Millson. Its Buccaneer frozen and chilled barbecue range includes salmon and tuna chargrills (pictured right), steaks and burgers. Sustainability in fisheries is being encouraged by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), set up in 1996 by the WWF and Unilever in an effort to reverse the decline in fish stocks through the creation of economic incentives for improved management of fish resources. The MSC has gained support from every sector, with the major supermarket groups and Youngs Bluecrest as signatories to its aims. Unilever has pledged to source only from MSC accredited stocks by 2005 and Sainsbury has become the first supermarket to offer customers a range of MSC-labelled products. These include Thames Herring, Western Australian Rock Lobster and Alaska Salmon, and 20 other fisheries are at different stages of the certification process. The New Zealand Hoki fishery is on the final leg, while the US Pollock fishery is in the early stages. A new market is opening up for anchovies as consumers discover the subtle, tangy flavour of Select Europe's large fillets marinated in oil and vinegar, either plain or flavoured with garlic, olives and oriental sauce (pictured). Select Europe says its marinated anchovies have a completely different taste to the salted variety, making ideal appetisers and snacks, or ingredients in starters and salads. Sainsbury has them on trial, along with a marinated seafood salad, and is expected to expand its listing. Rsp for the 200g chiller packs is £1.25. {{FOCUS SPECIALS }}

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