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When it comes to the fish and seafood we buy in the UK, it seems that we are creatures of habit. Just five popular species (cod, haddock, tuna, salmon and prawns) make up 80% of the seafood we eat*, and our preference for a handful of types of fish and seafood is contributing to the problem of overfishing. With recent research by ocean conservation charity Oceana showing that only a third of the fish stocks in the waters around the UK are in a healthy state, this is a problem we need to tackle fast.
“Our reliance on such a tiny array of seafood options is not only dull, it’s playing havoc with our oceans, leading to overfishing and unscrupulous fish farming practices to meet demand,” explains Jack Clarke, sustainable seafood advocate at the Marine Conservation Society (MCS ). Eating a greater range of more sustainable, locally-sourced fish can help take some of the pressure off overfished species and is better for the environment. Try these simple swaps recommended by the MCS Good Fish Guide.
What is the Good Fish Guide?
The Good Fish Guide is the MCS’s guide to which seafood is the most sustainable based on species, the health of fish stocks in a certain location and how and where the fish is sourced. It uses a numbered traffic light system:
- 1 (dark green) — The best choice when you’re buying fish. This is the most sustainably caught or responsibly farmed option
- 2 (light green)—A good choice. This fish is sustainably caught or responsibly farmed
- 3 (amber) — An OK choice but improvements are needed to how the fish is caught or farmed
- 4 (light red) — Try to find alternatives to fish with this rating. Significant improvements need to be made to the way it is caught or farmed
- 5 (dark red) — Fish to avoid due to significant environmental concerns
Here’s a full guide to how the ratings work.
The MCS have also created an app (the Good Fish Guide App) that allows you to make sustainable seafood choices on the go. You can use it to look up the rating of fish before ordering it at a restaurant or buying it in the supermarket — it even works when you’re offline.
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Which fish are sustainable?
If you’re wondering how sustainable your favorite fish dinner is, here’s what you need to know.
✕ Code
UK cod stocks are currently in a very bad state. If you want to eat cod, look for cod caught in the waters around Iceland, where stocks are still healthy. Alternatively, buy European hake instead, as stocks are currently doing well.
✓ Scallops and mussels
UK-farmed scallops and UK rope-grown mussels have a low environmental impact so they’re a great swap for prawns imported from around the world.
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✕ prickly pear
The sustainability of tuna varies enormously, depending on where it’s from and how it’s caught. If you can’t find skipjack or albacore tuna caught with a pole and line or a handline, swap for UK mackerel (preferably caught with a handline).
✓ Rainbow Trout
Rainbow trout that’s been farmed in freshwater ponds in the UK is a more sustainable choice than Wild Atlantic Salmon or most farmed salmon. If you are going to buy salmon, organic or farmed salmon that’s approved by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) is your best bet. If you can find it, Arctic char farmed in the UK is a more sustainable choice.
✕ Haddock
MSC-certified coley is a good swap for haddock and is often cheaper, too.
Is canned fish sustainable?
It’s worth noting that both herring and sardines have recently become green-rated fish in the latest update to the Good Fish Guide. As these are often sold in tins or jars, they keep longer than fresh fish, which can potentially avoid food waste. Almost two thirds of us (62%) in the UK say we buy fish in tins or jars regularly.
“Tinned fish, if caught or farmed sustainably, can make a great sustainable meal choice,” says MCS’s Clarke. “It’s affordable, keeps for a long time and really delivers on flavour. Tinned fish is incredibly versatile too, adding depth and umami to countless dishes, making a great store cupboard staple.”
*Marine Conservation Society
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