Fish & Chips

Overfished and chips

A delicate flavour and easily preserved flesh has made cod a favourite throughout Europe for centuries.

But as fishers became evermore efficient at catching this versatile fish, populations began a slow decline.

Today, most stocks are at or near record lows, with several in danger of commercial extinction. If overfishing continues, cod could be a dish of the past in less than 15 years.

Alternatives

The best choice is similarly flavoured whitefish that is MSC-certified including pollock, hake, hoki, Pacific cod, sablefish, and mackerel icefish.
Second choice is similarly flavoured whitefish from European waters including saithe, pollock, and haddock that are more plentiful than Atlantic cod.
For Atlantic cod itself the best choice is that caught legally by Iceland, Russia, or Norway, which fish the largest-remaining cod populations.
However, it is virtually impossible for consumers to know whether cod has been caught legally or not.
Organically farmed Atlantic cod is also available but cannot be viewed as a solution to the unsustainable management of certain wild caught fisheries.

Say Yes to sustainable seafood

Take a stand against unsustainable fishing and pledge to buy MSC certified seafood

If you can't find seafood with the MSC label in your local store, please ask for them. Businesses do listen to their customers.

If they think there is enough demand for MSC certified seafood they will stock it.