The Marine Conservation Society has called on the government to deliver better fisheries management following the publication of its Good Fish Guide.

The charity said ‘Our Good Fish Guide is rigorously reviewed and updated with the latest scientific advice twice a year. We focus on a different set of ratings each time, based on when there is new scientific data available. In our October 2022 update we reviewed several fisheries in the UK.

We’ve been calling for better monitoring of UK fishing for several years now and while progress is happening, it’s too slow. While some fisheries are showing the power of data to achieve sustainability goals, others are suffering from a lack of progress.’

Only 16 improvements out of 177 wild-caught seafood species

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, as reported in The Grocer. “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.

UK cod stocks to be avoided, Monkfish a winner

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.

This summer, scientists were able to carry out a new assessment of monkfish in the UK’s southwest. The new data is more detailed than before and shows that populations in this area are very healthy. Thanks to this new data, MCS are more confident that this fishery is following some sustainable principles. As a result, our Good Fish Guide ratings for black-bellied monkfish in this area have improved.

Farmed Seafood

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 told The Grocer. “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.

The story in The Grocer can be read here. For further information on the Goof Fish Guide October update go to the Marine Conservation Society page here.