Greenpeace says that Birds Eye and its European counterpart Iglo make enough fish fingers to stretch around the equator. But then it adds: "What they don't tell you is that over a third of their cod fish sticks could be stolen, the fish plundered illegally from the Baltic and Barents Seas."

Birds Eye's main UK fish production factory is based in Hull, employing over 600 people and Iglo's main fish operations are carried out in Germany.

The Greenpeace statement continues: "Recently Unilever sold Birds Eye and Iglo in Europe to Permira, an investment company. The sale isn't final until the end of the year. Unilever continually promises to ensure that all their fish came from sustainable sources.

"Unfortunately, they have a serious problem with a lot of illegal fish in their supply chain, including cod. Danish company Espersen is one of their main suppliers of cod. Espersen sources directly and indirectly from the Baltic, and indirectly from the Barents. This hides Unilever behind a wall of others, but this does not remove their responsibility. It also means Captain Birdseye cannot guarantee that the fish in your supermarket is not from illegal pirate fishing."

The organisation said that before the sale to Permira was finalised, Unilever should live up to its promises and announce publicly its intention to ensure that Permira isn't buying an illegal cod-laundering operation.

Scientists have recently called for a drastic reduction of 49,000 ton annual quota, which they say is too high and even a complete stop to cod fishing in the eastern Baltic Sea from next year.

Two weeks ago Grimsby based Young's Bluecrest said it had linked up to a Norwegian coastguard trawler blacklist of trawlers fishing illegally in the Baltic to ensure that its buyers avoid fish from those vessels and have issued strict instructions to that effect.

With Unilever due to attend the European Fish Processor’s Association Meeting later this week, Greenpeace has asked the public to make its views known to Unilever chief executive Patrick Cescau and his senior European (Iglo) executives.

The organisation added: "Unilever are one of the few companies present who have not made a public statement explaining how they will tackle illegal cod fishing, and their current commitments are weak, and lag behind their industry counterparts. Before the sale of their fish brands Birds Eye and Iglo to Permira is final, Unilever needs to clean up its act. Only with pressure from companies like Birdseye and Iglo will the suppliers further up the fishy food chain ever change."

Unilever has yet to issue a reply to the Greenpeace charge but says that its policy of sustainable development is about creating a balance between the economic, environmental and social aspects of its business.

An earlier policy statement says: "In the UK, as elsewhere in the world, we are committed to promoting sustainable development, minimising the environmental impact of manufacturing and consumption, and conserving valuable natural resources. Externally, we use our contacts with suppliers, consumers and local communities to influence attitudes and behaviour."

Unilever is also a big supporter of the Marine Stewardship Council and other similar bodies.

www.fishupdate.com is published by Special Publications. Special Publications also publish FISHupdate magazine, 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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