The Marine Conservation Society has called on the government to deliver better fisheries management following the publication of its Good Fish Guide.
The organisation’s latest guide reveals which were the most sustainable seafoods and which should be avoided by consumers. This season’s ratings update only had 16 improvements out of 177 wild-caught seafood species reviewed, which the organisation recognised as low.
“Many of the ratings on the Good Fish Guide are negatively affected by a lack of data,” said Charlotte Coombes, Good Fish Guide manager at the MCS. “If we knew more about what was going on at sea, measures could be put in place to protect our marine wildlife.”
The MCS is currently working alongside WWF and RSPB, forming the Future Fisheries Alliance, to campaign for better data to be collected on boats at sea, using remote electronic monitoring with cameras.
The Society is also calling on governments to hold strong on promises to the Joint Fisheries Statement, which is due to be finalised in November. The charity wants to see the JFS deliver an ‘ecosystem-based approach’ to fisheries management – taking a holistic view of how catching fish will affect the wider environment.
“We need the governments of the UK to pay immediate attention to our seas, so that we can have healthy oceans and a sustainable fishing industry,” Coombes added.
The MCS has argued that affordable and sustainable seafood options are possible, especially when it comes to tinned and frozen seafood.
“Tinned fish is an ocean-friendly store cupboard staple,” said Jack Clarke, sustainable seafood advocate at the Marine Conservation Society. “There are certified sustainable options for sardines, anchovies and tuna, all of which could create the base for a thrifty mid-week meal. North Sea and Marine Stewardship Council-certified herring stay on the green list and are also a great choice, available smoked or tinned.”
Alaska pollock, Icelandic cod and farmed mussels continued to hold the “best choice” category along with herring if caught in the North Sea, anchovies if caught in the bay of Biscay and tuna if albacore or skipjack caught by pole & line.
UK cod stocks are still to be avoided and there is no effective recovery plan in place, the organisation has said. Wild-caught Atlantic halibut has stayed red rated and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of threatened species.
However, farmed seafood fared well in the latest update, with GLOBALGAP certified Norweigan farmed halibut moving from an amber rating to green due to stricter requirements for sourcing fish feed.
“It’s a common misconception that farmed seafood is not as responsible a choice as its wild-caught counterpart,” said Dawn Purchase, aquaculture programme manager. “However, this season’s update to the Good Fish Guide has shown that for some species it is often a more ocean-friendly option.”
Farmed shellfish, including oysters, are green rated on the guide, while their wild alternatives are often red or amber rated, the organisation said.
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