Campaigners are calling upon the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate supermarkets that claim their scampi is “responsibly sourced”.

Charity Open Seas said fishing for scampi – a product containing a mixture of different crustaceans including prawns and lobster that is popularly breaded – causes “extensive damage” when suppliers sweep the ocean floor, as the heavy nets catch other marine life which is often discarded.

The British Retail Consortium said retailers were working with suppliers to “ensure products meet customer expectations on sustainability” and added that retailers were “committed to sourcing scampi responsibly”, reported the BBC.

Yet activists from Open Seas have said grocery retailers describing the product as “responsibly sourced” breaches CMA guidance.

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The UK competition watchdog‘s policy requires marketing claims to be honest and accurate, as well as “clear and unambiguous”.

Open Seas Nick Underdown said: “We’ve raised these concerns with supermarkets, but they continue to sell scampi as ‘responsibly sourced’. Catching large volumes of young fish against scientific advice is not responsible. Trawling over fragile marine habitats is not responsible.

“Consumers should not be misled by products being marketed in this way. Businesses failing to address these problems is not responsible. The way scampi is produced has all the hallmarks of an irresponsible fishery,” added Underdown.

Currently many leading supermarkets have announced investments into various marine sustainability initiatives, including Sainsbury’s which hails itself as one of the first-ever retailers to be awarded by the Marine Stewardships Council, and M&S which is a member of the Board of Trustees for Fisheries Innovation Scotland.