Good Fish Guide

Sole, Sand

Pegusa lascaris

Sprat, whitebait

Sprattus sprattus

Sprat is used for both human consumption and for industrial purposes, e.g. food for agriculture and aquaculture. Sprat are a highly resilient species and small artisanal inshore fisheries for human consumption are unlikely to impact … Read more significantly on wider stocks. However, sprat are under pressure from industrial fisheries, with high removals, current uncertainty in status and unclear management in some areas. Without proper stock assessment and management, fisheries will likely be much less sustainable.

Mature sprat is a more sustainable alternative to whitebait, which is often a mixture of juvenile fish such as herring, sprat and sandeel. The majority of the North Sea stock is made up of adult or mature fish.

Spurdog, Spiny Dogfish, Dogfish, Rock Salmon or Flake

Squalus acanthias

Spurdog (spiny dogfish, rock salmon or flake) are long-lived, slow growing and have a high age at maturity. These characteristics make them particularly vulnerable to high levels of fishing mortality. The Northeast Atlantic stock is … Read more considered to be depleted. The species is assessed as Critically Endangered by IUCN and has been recently added to the OSPAR list of threatened and/or declining species and habitats.

Squid, Argentine short fin

Illex argentinus

Squid (often found on menus using the Italian word 'calamari') can be stuffed whole, cut into pieces or rings, which are often deep fried, pickled, as jerky called sakiika, salted or fermented (shiokara). Squid flesh is also produced to … Read more create raw (sashimi) or processed to create dried (surume), cooked (sakiika) or frozen or canned. The Chinese Common squid are a high value species, sold fresh, frozen, dried or processed into hoods and rings or sashimi for the Japanese sushi market. Squid has quite a bland taste so needs other flavourings to perk it up.
Squid is a mollusc related to octopus and cuttlefish. Characterised by a large, fleshy body (mantle), there are more than 300 different types of squid around the world but the most common species eaten in the UK are the European and the Atlantic squid.
Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and is removed from the sea before it has spawned (females die after spawning, though males may live to breed for a second year). Squid is also an important bait species for catching species such as tuna.

Squid fisheries around the world exhibit considerable variations in annual catch, mainly as a result of large fluctuations in annual abundance that appear to be environmentally driven. Fluctuating abundance together with their rapid growth and short life cycle means precise stock information is not available. Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and, without appropriate management, deliberately targeted industrial-scale fisheries have the capacity to remove significant quantities from the sea before they have spawned (it dies after spawning). Fisheries in UK waters tend to be small, seasonal, non-targeted and squid (Loligo forbesi and Loligo vulgaris) is generally taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries for nephrops and other demersal whitefish species. Check which area the squid is from as it may have been caught in an area where whitefish such as cod or whiting are unsustainably fished. A more selective method of fishing for squid is by jigging. An example of such a fishery in the UK is the Sennan Cove squid fishery in Cornwall, where fishermen go out in small punts and fish for squid using jigs, a method of fishing similar to that of hand lining.

Squid, Atlantic, Common, European, Veined

Loligo vulgaris, Loligo forbesi

Squid, Atlantic, Common, European, Veined

Loligo vulgaris, Loligo forbesi

Squid, Indian

Loligo duvauceli

Squid (often found on menus using the Italian word 'calamari') can be stuffed whole, cut into pieces or rings, which are often deep fried, pickled, as jerky called sakiika, salted or fermented (shiokara). Squid flesh is also produced to … Read more create raw (sashimi) or processed to create dried (surume), cooked (sakiika) or frozen or canned. The Chinese Common squid are a high value species, sold fresh, frozen, dried or processed into hoods and rings or sashimi for the Japanese sushi market. Squid has quite a bland taste so needs other flavourings to perk it up.
Squid is a mollusc related to octopus and cuttlefish. Characterised by a large, fleshy body (mantle), there are more than 300 different types of squid around the world but the most common species eaten in the UK are the European and the Atlantic squid.
Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and is removed from the sea before it has spawned (females die after spawning, though males may live to breed for a second year). Squid is also an important bait species for catching species such as tuna.

Squid fisheries around the world exhibit considerable variations in annual catch, mainly as a result of large fluctuations in annual abundance that appear to be environmentally driven. Fluctuating abundance together with their rapid growth and short life cycle means precise stock information is not available. Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and, without appropriate management, deliberately targeted industrial-scale fisheries have the capacity to remove significant quantities from the sea before they have spawned (it dies after spawning). Fisheries in UK waters tend to be small, seasonal, non-targeted and squid (Loligo forbesi and Loligo vulgaris) is generally taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries for nephrops and other demersal whitefish species. Check which area the squid is from as it may have been caught in an area where whitefish such as cod or whiting are unsustainably fished. A more selective method of fishing for squid is by jigging. An example of such a fishery in the UK is the Sennan Cove squid fishery in Cornwall, where fishermen go out in small punts and fish for squid using jigs, a method of fishing similar to that of hand lining.

Squid, Japanese flying

Todarodes pacificus

Squid (often found on menus using the Italian word 'calamari') can be stuffed whole, cut into pieces or rings, which are often deep fried, pickled, as jerky called sakiika, salted or fermented (shiokara). Squid flesh is also produced to … Read more create raw (sashimi) or processed to create dried (surume), cooked (sakiika) or frozen or canned. The Chinese Common squid are a high value species, sold fresh, frozen, dried or processed into hoods and rings or sashimi for the Japanese sushi market. Squid has quite a bland taste so needs other flavourings to perk it up.
Squid is a mollusc related to octopus and cuttlefish. Characterised by a large, fleshy body (mantle), there are more than 300 different types of squid around the world but the most common species eaten in the UK are the European and the Atlantic squid.
Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and is removed from the sea before it has spawned (females die after spawning, though males may live to breed for a second year). Squid is also an important bait species for catching species such as tuna.

Squid fisheries around the world exhibit considerable variations in annual catch, mainly as a result of large fluctuations in annual abundance that appear to be environmentally driven. Fluctuating abundance together with their rapid growth and short life cycle means precise stock information is not available. Squid plays an important role in oceanic and coastal food webs and, without appropriate management, deliberately targeted industrial-scale fisheries have the capacity to remove significant quantities from the sea before they have spawned (it dies after spawning). Fisheries in UK waters tend to be small, seasonal, non-targeted and squid (Loligo forbesi and Loligo vulgaris) is generally taken as bycatch in trawl fisheries for nephrops and other demersal whitefish species. Check which area the squid is from as it may have been caught in an area where whitefish such as cod or whiting are unsustainably fished. A more selective method of fishing for squid is by jigging. An example of such a fishery in the UK is the Sennan Cove squid fishery in Cornwall, where fishermen go out in small punts and fish for squid using jigs, a method of fishing similar to that of hand lining.

Sturgeon (Caught at sea)

Acipenser, Huso spp.

There are about 20 species of Sturgeon but some of them are critically endangered, such as the European Sturgeon. Avoid eating wild sturgeon.

Sturgeon (Farmed)

Acipenser, Huso spp.

Sturgeons the world over are now greatly depleted in number and many of the 27 species - prized for their flesh and eggs (caviar) - are in rapid decline. They are vulnerable to over-exploitation because they are generally long-lived and … Read more slow to mature, and depend on large rivers to spawn. In particular, species native to the Caspian Sea and rivers feeding it have suffered sturgeon habitat loss, destruction of breeding grounds, pollution and mismanaged fisheries. The value of wild sturgeon caviar is so high that there is a substantial illegal fishery for sturgeon that is completely unregulated. Avoid eating wild sturgeon. Due to the lucrative market and demand for caviar, sturgeon aquaculture developed. As wild sturgeon are so depleted, farmed caviar is a better choice. With sturgeon farming there is no dependence on wild fish for broodstock as all fish are bred in hatcheries. Most sturgeon farming in Europe takes place in France.

Swordfish

Xiphias gladius

Swordfish sustainability varies. The Best Choices are Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified. Avoid all swordfish caught by gillnet, as swordfish gillnets can be several kilometres long and catch huge numbers of dolphins, sharks and … Read more turtles. Also avoid swordfish caught by longline in the south-east Pacific, as longline fisheries here catch Critically Endangered leatherback turtles, which are at risk of going locally extinct.

Tilapia

Oreochromis niloticus niloticus

Tilapia are omnivores, and as such have a low requirement for fishmeal and fish-oil in their diets, making them net producers of fish protein and therefore a valuable aquaculture species. . When buying farmed tilapia the best choices are … Read more fish farmed to ASC standards or fish farmed in closed systems. Both production methods reduce the negative environmental impacts (e.g. discharges, escapes, transfer of disease and parasites, habitat damage and water pollution or degradation) associated with other culture systems such as open net pen or pond systems.

Trout, Rainbow

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout is the predominant farmed trout species as brown trout is mainly produced for restocking purposes. Wild sea trout populations are threatened in some areas. Only eat wild line-caught sea trout from well-managed fisheries, such … Read more as a rod & line fisheries. Avoid eating fresh sea trout caught during the breeding or spawning season from November to March inclusive. Rainbow trout is widely farmed in UK, mainly in freshwater. Farming takes place mainly in ponds or raceways with water being supplied from an adjacent river. Location of farms is determined by the proximity of a clean river to provide water. Trout are carnivorous fish whose feed relies on wild fisheries. Rainbow trout farmed in freshwater is a good choice.

Tuna, albacore

Thunnus alalunga

Albacore tuna has mixed sustainability, but there are many good options. The Best Choices are any albacore caught by pole-and-line or troll (which use fishing rods), or MSC-certified longline-caught albacore from the North Atlantic. Most … Read more albacore are caught in uncertified longline fisheries, which can catch high numbers of vulnerable species like seabirds, turtles and sharks.

Tuna, Atlantic bluefin

Thunnus thynnus

Atlantic bluefin tuna has mixed sustainability, and there are currently no Best Choice options. It was listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, but has started to recover. However, it is not clear whether it has reached sustainable … Read more levels yet. Avoid longline-caught Atlantic bluefin, as this method can catch vulnerable species like sharks and seabirds. Also avoid farmed bluefin, which relies on catching young tuna from the wild and so puts pressure on the wild population. It also uses other wild fish species for feed, putting pressure on those populations too. On average, 20kg of wild fish are needed to produce 1kg of farmed bluefin.