Greenpeace flying blimp over Costco to draw attention to fish-buying practices

Greenpeace activists are flying a blimp over Costco Wholesale's headquarters and warehouse in Issaquah this week, trying to draw attention to what they consider its lax policy regarding seafood buying.

Banners on both sides of the blimp read, "Costco: Wholesale Ocean Destruction."

The environmental activists, known more for using boats than blimps, want the country's third-largest retailer to stop carrying overfished species including Chilean sea bass and orange roughy and adopt a sustainable seafood policy to address issues with farmed salmon, tropical shrimp, tuna and other seafood.

Casson Trenor, an oceans campaigner with Greenpeace and author of the book "Sustainable Sushi," figures Costco sells about 8 percent of all seafood sold through U.S. grocery stores.

"They need to use that purchasing power to go out, find innovators in the aquaculture industry and support change," he said. "If they have to buy farmed salmon, I understand that may be the case, but they need to use their buying power to improve that industry."

Costco officials say they do take steps to assure seafood sustainability and have policies that Greenpeace is not aware of.

The company does not fill out Greenpeace's annual survey about seafood buying, which this year ranked the wholesale club 14 out of 20 food retailers. Target came in first, followed by an East Coast chain called Wegmans, Whole Foods and Safeway.

"We're certainly going to have some dialogue with them," said Jeff Lyons, Costco's senior vice president of fresh foods. "It's very important for us to have sustainable seafood, because we're not going to be here just five years, but 50 years and beyond."

Costco already participates with other sea-life organizations, he said.

For example, the World Wildlife Federation's website lists Costco a participant in industry discussions it has held on salmon, shrimp and tilapia.

"We go about doing our business, and we've got a good, ethical company and want to do the right thing," he said. "Once they get to know us, we'll be OK."

The conversation probably will not happen this week, he said, because he and the rest of the company are preparing for a busy July 4 weekend.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace plans to fly the blimp over Issaquah and I-90 on Thursday morning and will continue its campaign in various ways until it sees change, Trenor said.

Melissa Allison: 206-464-3312 or mallison@seattletimes.com