New traffic light system indicates most sustainable seafood
Monkfish caught in the west of Scotland and North Sea is among a number of species that has been newly added to a red list of ‘fish to avoid’ in the latest Good Fish Guide.
The guide, produced by the Marine Conservation Society and available as an app, uses a trafficlightsystemtoindicateto consumerswhichseafoodisthe most sustainable – green is the ‘bestchoice’;amberis‘oktoeat’ but improvements are needed; and red indicates ‘fish to avoid’.
It is updated twice a year with all species reviewed every one to three years.
The latest assessment ranks 14speciesas‘fishtoavoid’,while only10aremarked‘bestchoice’.
New ratings for Scottish crab and lobster have been added to the guide for the first time this year, with catches from eight of theninelocationslistedwithan amber or red grading.
Fears of over-fishing and risks to whales through entanglement with ropes are behind the gradings.
Only brown crab from Shetland has been awarded a green ‘best choice’ rating in the UK.
Langoustine remains at amber, ‘OK to eat’, if harvested by trawling but has a green rating if caught in creels.
North Sea herring has returnedtothe‘bestchoice’list.
Monkfish from the North Sea and west of Scotland have been downgradedtothe‘fishtoavoid’ list as numbers have declined fromapeakin2017totheirlowest level since 2013.
The MCS says this is because management is poor and fishing pressure too high.
Monkfish caught in the Celtic Sea, in the southwest UK, remains amber-rated.
Cod, whiting and haddock from the Celtic Sea have a mixtureofratingsbecausethethree speciesswimandfeedtogether, meaning they are often caught together regardless of which fish are being targeted.
Cod and whiting are at dangerously low levels in the area, with scientists recommending that no cod should not be caught there. Meanwhile haddockstocksareathealthylevels butcatchesareexceedingscientifically recommended limits.
Most skates and rays have been graded ‘fish to avoid’, with none given green ratings and very few amber options.
The environmental charity is calling for urgent improvements to fisheries managementaroundtheuktoimprove the marine environment, safeguard fish stocks, protect important livelihoods and guaranteefuturefoodsupplies.