Fishy goings on at chains

More than half of the UK’s 12 biggest restaurant chains are plundering overfished areas or failing to be transparent about the origins of their aquatic ingredients, a new study shows

Only half of the chains, which are serving at least four species of seafood, were willing to provide full answers to questions about the sources of their seafood.

The chains involved have more than 1,800 branches between them and serve thousands of tonnes of seafood each year

The poll was undertaken by the Marine Conservation Society (MSC), which is working to ensure that all seafood eaten or traded in the UK is caught or produced sustainably.

Sea bass, whitebait, cod and king prawns are among the seafood used bythe restaurantswhich

“Yo! Sushi and Pret A Manger were most sustainable”

come from fisheries rated “avoid” by MCS, or for which the source is unclear.

Yo! Sushi and Pret A Manger were found to be the most sustainable chains and followed highly responsible approaches to buying seafood, while Table Table, Hungry Horse and Zizzi were also to standard.

Bella Italia, Ask, Harvester, Wagamama, Café Rouge, Chiquito, and Frankie& Benny’s all fell below minimum expectations, but MCS said none of them were beyond saving, and small adjustments would turn things around.

MCS chief executive Sam Fanshawe said: “We’re very encouraged that major high street chains like Pret A Manger and Yo! Sushi are leading the way, demonstrating that sustainable seafood is good for business as well as the environment.”