Popular White Fish Ratings Crash in New Marine Conservation Guide

Forget cod or haddock. You might find yourself eating seabass next time you order fish and chips. The Marine Conservation Society just dropped its latest Good Fish Guide, showing exactly what you should eat and what to avoid. Ratings for popular white fish have crashed hard. Coley, hake, Dover sole, and haddock are all in trouble now. Instead, try Alaskan pollock, monkfish, or seabass from the right places.

Kerry Lyne, who manages the Good Fish Guide at the Marine Conservation Society, explained why this matters. 'The status of fish stocks are continuously changing,' she said. 'For consumers, it means that simply choosing a species isn't enough.' A fish that was safe to eat years ago might be gone today. The guide uses science to rate each catch based on where and how it is caught or farmed.

The system works like this: ratings go from one to five. One is the 'Best Choice'. Five means 'Fish to Avoid'. Several white fish previously seen as green alternatives to cod have now slipped down the list. European hake moved from green to amber because stocks are falling and fishing pressure is too high. Coley caught around the UK turned red due to population decline. Northeast Arctic coley also dropped further on the scale.

Haddock caught near Iceland, a major supplier for Britain, shifted from green to amber. Fishing levels exceed sustainable limits there. Catches remain above scientific advice. However, haddock from the North Sea, Skagerrak, and Scottish waters stays green rated. This area remains a top source of haddock for UK consumers.

The Society recommends Alaskan pollock from the Gulf of Alaska or the Bering Sea. Monkfish caught in the North Sea, Rockall, or west of Scotland is also okay. Most seabass works too. But avoid seabass from the West of Scotland and West of Ireland because stock levels are poor. 'Avoid seabass from the West of Scotland and West of Ireland due to poor stock,' it advised.

Shellfish get a pass in some cases. Opt for European lobster from Jersey if it is MSC certified. Shetland brown crab with MSC certification is good too. UK farmed blue mussels work well. King prawns farmed under the RAS system in the UK are also recommended. 'The best thing we can all do if we eat seafood, is diversify our seafood choices and avoid those most under threat,' Ms Lyne added.

We need action from the UK Government to fix fisheries management better. Many local stocks are declining fast. Without recovery plans, these waters could lose their future entirely. Communities rely on fishing for jobs and food security. If we do not change what we buy now, who will feed us later? The choice is simple but urgent. Look at your plate. Make it count.