Good Fish Guide update repeats claims on UK seafood, questioning evidence behind cod, scampi and mackerel sustainability concerns
Familiar Claims Resurface With Latest Guide Update
The latest update to the Good Fish Guide again raises concerns about the sustainability of several UK seafood staples, but much of the messaging will feel familiar to those in the fishing industry.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which produces the guide, says updated ratings show increased pressure on species such as cod and langoustine, commonly marketed as scampi. However, the guide remains an NGO-led assessment rather than a regulatory benchmark, and its conclusions are based on its own interpretation of available scientific advice.
Several UK cod stocks have been in decline since around 2015, according to MCS, which attributes this to a combination of fishing pressure, warming seas and wider ecosystem changes. The latest ratings place cod caught north of the UK outside of recommended categories, leaving no green-rated domestic options.
That position contrasts with the continued availability of cod under existing fisheries management frameworks, raising questions about how the guide’s ratings align with official stock assessments and quota-setting processes.
Langoustine Ratings Downgraded, but Context Disputed
Langoustine fisheries have also seen downgrades in some areas, with MCS stating that catches have exceeded scientifically advised levels in recent years and that populations are declining.
As in previous updates, the guide favours creel or pot-caught langoustine, while trawled fisheries receive lower ratings. This distinction is not new and remains a point of contention, particularly given the economic reliance of parts of the fishing sector on trawl-caught nephrops.
The guide identifies only a small number of green-rated fisheries, specifically those using pots or creels in areas such as the North Minch, South Minch, and parts of the Skagerrak and Kattegat.
Critics within the fishing industry have previously argued that such ratings can oversimplify complex stock dynamics and do not always reflect the full picture of stock health or management controls already in place.
Mackerel Red Listing Follows Ongoing Dispute
Mackerel has now been placed on the guide’s red list, with consumers advised to avoid it entirely. This follows ongoing disputes between coastal states over quota shares and stock management.
While the downgrade aligns with broader criticism of international management arrangements, it again reflects the MCS position rather than any formal prohibition on fishing or sale.
Retail responses, including previous decisions by some supermarkets to remove mackerel products, suggest the guide continues to carry commercial influence despite its non-regulatory status.
Alternatives Promoted as Pressure Mounts
The guide promotes alternatives to affected species, including European hake as a substitute for cod and certain haddock fisheries in the North Sea and west of Scotland as acceptable options.
A new rating has also been introduced for UK farmed king prawns produced in Scotland using closed containment systems, which MCS presents as a lower-impact alternative to langoustine.
Other recommended choices include seabass, plaice, blue mussels and freshwater trout from UK sources.
However, the repeated emphasis on substitution raises a broader issue. Shifting consumer demand from one species to another does not remove pressure from the system, it redistributes it, and the long-term consequences of that approach remain unclear.
Ongoing Calls for Policy Change
MCS is again calling for stronger UK Government action to support what it describes as a transition to low-impact fisheries and sustainable aquaculture.
Kerry Lyne, Good Fish Guide Manager, said the update “highlights more sustainable alternatives and shows how consumer choices can support healthier local fish stocks and better-managed fisheries”.
Chris Graham, Head of Sustainable Seafood and Ocean Regeneration, said “we need strong action from the UK Government to support a transition to low-impact fisheries and sustainable seafood farming”.
The UK currently imports around 80 percent of the seafood it consumes, a figure often cited in arguments for rebuilding domestic stocks. Whether guides such as this contribute to that goal, or simply add another layer of interpretation over already complex fisheries science, remains open to debate.
