Protestors dressed as sharks laid siege to the Liverpool headquarters of Princes yesterday in a protest against tuna fishing.

Greenpeace campaigners accused Princes of destructive fishing methods that endangered rare marine life. Campaigners climbed part of the Liver Building, where Princes is based, and brandished banners and placards.

“We have been in ongoing discussions with Greenpeace and recently requested a further meeting to discuss a number of additional sustainability commitments we have recently made,” the company said.

“It's disappointing that they have chosen to take this action ahead of listening to what we have to say.”

David Ritter of Greenpeace said: “Princes is the biggest tuna company in the country, responsible for more than one in three tuna tins sold in Britain.

“But killed alongside Princes tuna is almost the entire cast list of Finding Nemo and this includes rare sharks as well as other important animals facing extinction in the wild.”

Earlier this month Princes added to its business after agreeing a £182m deal to buy the canned foods business of Premier Foods, taking on brands including Fray Bentos and Crosse & Blackwell.

Read more
Princes takes canned business off Premier’s hands (8 February 2011)
Top Products Survey 2010: Canned Goods (18 December 2010)
Princes ups the stakes in tuna with NPD (12 June 2010)