In the Waitrose policy it refers to "New Forest Barramundi"
http://www.nativefish.asn.au/barramundi.html
They are the same species that often feature on Rex Hunt's programs from Australia.They are being reared indoors in the UK and they are sold in my local Waitrose.
In 2003-2004 the entire Autralian production of farmed Barramundi was 1560 tonnes.The UK fish farm is actually produing 400 tonnes a year so its a very big operation indeed with a huge number of fish involved.
Waitrose do have some pretty sound policies on sourcing their food but on this one i think they have got it utterly wrong. I cannot see how encouraging farming of an alien fish species in the UK is a reponsible policy.
Even with very strick controls history demonstrates the inevitability that we will end up with a feral population of Barramundi in the UK.
What damage that will do is anyones guess but Barramundi are predators that grow large (up to 6 feet and 130 lb)and can live in both fresh and saltwater so it could be enormous.
The EA will no doubt then act surprised and come up with a useless plan for erradicating them.
The EA and/or the British Government should have stopped this.
Fisheries policy and practice are so far apart in this country that its a joke.