The code, which covers issues like traceability, health and safety and fish sustainability, was conceived by Grimsby Fish Merchants Association chief executive Steve Norton to raise standards in the industry and launched in April by the Yorkshire and Humber Seafood Group . The successful firms are Ocean Bounty and Ocean Harvest, William Hobson Ltd, JCS Fish and Norman Rogers.

Ocean Bounty are fish traders on both a national and international scale, dealing in salmon, sea bass, bream and traditional species like cod and haddock. The company and buys from Norway and Greece and sells to the United States, as well as to customers in the UK catering trade.Owner Peter Dalton said he was delighted with the award. "It took a lot of hard work, but it was well worth it.

Bill Hobson, owner of William Hobson Ltd, and chairman of the Grimsby Fish Merchants Association said he too was very pleased with the achievement. 'Last year we received the British Retail Consortium certification – and you don't get much bigger than that because it is the top standard.

Steve Norton, said he was sure other processors would soon join the list of successful firms . 'The code took us three years to perfect. For too long seafood has been regarded as a Cinderella industry and this will help to raise standards to the benefit of merchants, retailers and the public.'

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish Fish Farmer, the Fish Industry Yearbook, the Scottish Seafood Processors Federation Diary, the Fish Farmer Handbook and a range of wallplanners.

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