The case sparked strong reactions on social networks.
A commercial operation of an E. Leclerc center aimed to market blue sharks.
Spotted by environmentalists, it was finally canceled.
In a charade posted on Facebook at the end of the week, the Blaye store explained that a "
new species
", described as "
pelagic
" and having a particular "
skin color
" was arriving in the fish counter.
Response from activists
"
I am a blue shark, a species whose numbers are collapsing to the point that I am classified as critically endangered in the Mediterranean
", reacted the journalist and environmental activist, Hugo Clément, on Twitter.
“
When endangered species continue to be authorized for sale, it gives this: the worst of advertising creativity in the service of the worst of fishing
”, was offended by the NGO Sea Shepherd France, on the same network.
Violation of the “tidal policy”
Strongly challenged by several activists, the store reacted on Friday by apologizing on its Facebook page and acknowledging that it had violated the "
tide policy of the E. Leclerc brand
".
Read alsoThe shortcomings of “French-style” marine protected areas
"
E.Leclerc has had a list of species prohibited for sale since 2017 and the blue-skinned shark is one of them
", explains the message, adding that the team is committed to "
never reproduce this error and to respect the tide policy of the E.Leclerc centers to the letter
”.
Opening of an internal investigation
Another E. Leclerc store had already come under heavy criticism from conservationists two years ago, when it offered a thresher shark - a species listed as '
vulnerable
' globally and '
endangered
' in European waters - in Vitry-sur-Seine.
Read alsoMarine protected areas, not very effective against accidental captures
Faced with the outcry, the management had also apologized there and opened an internal investigation to "
understand how such an error had been possible
".