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North Sea haddock taken off sustainable 'fish to eat' list North Sea haddock taken off sustainable 'fish to eat' list
(about 1 hour later)
Haddock from the North Sea and the west of Scotland have been taken off a list of sustainable "fish to eat".Haddock from the North Sea and the west of Scotland have been taken off a list of sustainable "fish to eat".
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said it downgraded the fish on its Good Fish Guide after stock numbers fell.The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said it downgraded the fish on its Good Fish Guide after stock numbers fell.
But the Scottish Fishermen's Federation insisted haddock quotas are adequate to protect stocks.But the Scottish Fishermen's Federation insisted haddock quotas are adequate to protect stocks.
"You can continue to buy your fish supper without worrying about whether there will be enough fish left in the sea," its chief executive said."You can continue to buy your fish supper without worrying about whether there will be enough fish left in the sea," its chief executive said.
Haddock is one of the UK's "big five" seafood species along with cod, tuna, salmon and prawns, and a favourite at the chip shop. Haddock is one of the UK's "big five" seafood species along with cod, tuna, salmon and prawns, and a favourite at chip shops.
But haddock from three North Sea and West of Scotland fisheries is no longer on the MCS's recommended "green" list of fish to eat.But haddock from three North Sea and West of Scotland fisheries is no longer on the MCS's recommended "green" list of fish to eat.
They have been downgraded because stock numbers in 2016 were below the recommended level and action was needed to increase the number of fish at breeding age.They have been downgraded because stock numbers in 2016 were below the recommended level and action was needed to increase the number of fish at breeding age.
Two North Sea haddock fisheries are now rated "amber" - scoring four on a scale of one to five, where one is the most sustainable.Two North Sea haddock fisheries are now rated "amber" - scoring four on a scale of one to five, where one is the most sustainable.
Haddock from the west coast fishery has dropped from being a good choice (rated two) to one to eat only occasionally (rated three).Haddock from the west coast fishery has dropped from being a good choice (rated two) to one to eat only occasionally (rated three).
Bernadette Clarke, manager of the MCS Good Fish Guide, said: "These ratings changes have come about because scientific perception of the stock has changed.Bernadette Clarke, manager of the MCS Good Fish Guide, said: "These ratings changes have come about because scientific perception of the stock has changed.
"Compared to 2015, the stock numbers in 2016 were below the recommended level and at the point where action is now needed to increase the number of fish of breeding age.""Compared to 2015, the stock numbers in 2016 were below the recommended level and at the point where action is now needed to increase the number of fish of breeding age."
However, Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, criticised the decision of the MCS. She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland: "There's no suggestion that fishermen should stop fishing, taking fish from these areas, but there is a scientific recommendation to reduce the amount of catches taken from these areas in 2017."
'Unfortunate error' And she suggested consumers looking for an alternative to haddock try coley, whiting or hake.
He said: "The fishing industry is well used to these sorts of frankly meaningless publications - it's not so long ago that we were told that there were only 100 cod left in the North Sea. Try telling that to fishermen today who are seeing huge volumes of large cod on the grounds. Despite the move by the MCS, the fish is certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council, an international body set up to address unsustainable fishing.
"Consumers can be reassured that quotas for haddock have already been reduced in line with the stock assessments, following an unfortunate error by the scientists. 'Genuinely irresponsible'
"So you can continue to buy your fish supper without worrying about whether there will be enough fish left in the sea." Bertie Armstrong, the chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, criticised the MCS and claimed the move to downgrade the fish would lead to confusion among consumers.
He told BBC Radio Scotland that North Sea and west coast haddock is being caught sustainably and within a quota which has been reduced.
"The stock is not threatened, the stock is caught sustainability and the real perversity of this is that this advice, this lightweight, thoughtless advice from the Marine Conservation Society could lead to actually discarding at retail level," he said.
"What it's saying to the consumer is leave this lying on the fishmonger's slab, don't pick it up.
"That will cause it to go in the skip at the back of the supermarket if anybody pays attention to this, so it's irresponsible. It's genuinely irresponsible."
There are also improvements for scampi fisheries in the west of Scotland, Clyde and Jura catch areas in the latest list from the society.There are also improvements for scampi fisheries in the west of Scotland, Clyde and Jura catch areas in the latest list from the society.
People buying American lobster are advised to choose ones which come from fisheries with a Marine Stewardship Council certification, which means they implement stronger management to protect stocks and habitat and prevent bycatch (the unwanted fish trapped by commercial fishing nets while fishing for a different species).People buying American lobster are advised to choose ones which come from fisheries with a Marine Stewardship Council certification, which means they implement stronger management to protect stocks and habitat and prevent bycatch (the unwanted fish trapped by commercial fishing nets while fishing for a different species).
The Marine Conservation Society also has ratings for different types of tuna from around the world and different methods of catching them, including nets, long lines and pole and line fisheries.The Marine Conservation Society also has ratings for different types of tuna from around the world and different methods of catching them, including nets, long lines and pole and line fisheries.