Good Fish Guide
Your guide to sustainable seafood
You can play a key role in securing the future of our seas and marine wildlife by making more environmentally responsible choices when buying seafood.
Our seas face a wide range of threats - click to expand
Our seas face a wide range of threats. Climate change, pollution, habitat and biodiversity loss are all impacting our seas; plus 90% of global fish stocks are either fully or over-exploited. All these factors combined mean that urgent action is needed to restore the health of our seas. Fish farming (aquaculture) is rapidly expanding to meet increasing demand for seafood, but if this is done badly it can also damage the environment and exacerbate these other problems.
Use the Good Fish Guide to find out which fish are the most sustainable (Green rated), and which are the least sustainable (Red rated). Make the right choice and reduce your impact – every purchase matters! Find out more about our seafood work, including how we develop our seafood ratings, plus sustainable seafood recipes and more.
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Sturgeon (Farmed)
Acipenser, Huso spp.
Sturgeon is the common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, one of the oldest families of bony fish in existence, all found in the northern hemisphere. Sometimes Sturgeon is used more exclusively to refer to
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species in the two best-known genera, Acipenser and Huso. Sturgeon are distinctive for their elongated bodies, lack of scales and rows of bony plates including covering the head. All sturgeon are slow-growing & late-maturing. They are among the world's most valuable wildlife resources. Main marketed products are meat and caviar (roe or eggs). Since 1998, international trade in all species of sturgeons has been regulated under CITES owing to concerns over the impact of unsustainable harvesting of and illegal trade in sturgeon populations in the wild. Farmed caviar is now widely available as are caviar substitutes such as lumpfish and salmon roe. There is also a vegetarian alternative available made from seaweed. Although It is unlikely that you will find sturgeon meat for sale in the UK, you will most likely find farmed caviar available.
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 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 fror broodstock as all fish are bred in hatcheries. Most sturgeon farming in Europe takes place in France.
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Production country — Europe and USA
Production method — Closed system
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Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
A magnificent solitary predator, extremely fast swimming with a fearsome-looking, pointed sword-like bill for stunning its prey. It can gather speed up to 50mph and can reach up to 4.5m in length! Like sharks, swordfish are at the top of
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the food-chain and play an important role in the marine ecosystem.
A number of swordfish fisheries in the Atlantic and Southwest Pacific have been certified as well managed and sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), so make sure to look for any products that carry their blue ecolabel. A very valuable commercial species, swordfish has been heavily exploited throughout its range and previously overfished, remaining heavily so in the Mediterranean. Improvements to management in other fisheries has recovered populations; with the North Atlantic, Western North Pacific, and Indian Oceans all having fairly healthy fisheries. The primary method of capture though, longlining, continues to impact on vulnerable species such as seabirds, turtles and sharks. Whilst there are measures in use to reduce these impacts, more needs to be done to ensure they are effective and that impacts to these species are minimised.
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21) and Central (FAO 31) West
Stock area — North West & Central West Atlantic
Stock detail —
Canadian and US certified fleets
Certification —
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, South West (FAO 81) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — South West Pacific
Stock detail —
Australia. Certified fleets only
Certification —
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus niloticus
Tilapia is a low calorie, low carb and low sodium protein although it has got quite a high fat content. Its plain, rather muddy flavour allows it to take on other flavours and it can be cooked with a variety of herbs and spices. It can
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be used to replace cod. A vegetarian, farmed freshwater fish, of variable colour and size. It doesn't depend on wild fish to be caught to feed it and is becoming widely available in the UK as a sustainable choice. Tilapia is a generic name used to describe groups of fish called Cichlids that are native to Africa.
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 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.
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Production country — Global
Production method — Closed recirculation system (RAS) monoculture
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Production country — Global
Production method — All
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Production country — Zimbabwe
Production method — Open net pen
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Trout, Rainbow
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Brown or sea and rainbow trout can be steamed or baked, whole or filleted, and is really tasty when cooked in the microwave. Also popular smoked. Not strongly flavoured but its low in fat - a third of the fat of salmon at just 135kcals per
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100g and its rich in Omega 3! Brown or sea trout may be caught in the wild, but most on sale are farmed. It's a pretty close relative to the salmon. Sea trout has a number of regional names around the UK including sewin, finnock, peal, mort and white trout. Most trout on sale however, are rainbow trout which is the most popular farmed species of trout, with most production taking place in freshwater. Also a member of the salmonid family, rainbow trout is a non-indigenous species and was introduced to Europe from the USA. Rainbow trout farming was introduced into the UK in the 1950's, and now there are over 300 trout farms. There are very few self-sustaining or breeding populations in Europe. Supplies are maintained chiefly through farmed fish.
Rainbow trout is the predominant farmed trout species as brown trout is mainly produced for restocking purposes however some is available for the table. Wild sea trout populations are threatened in some areas. Only eat wild line-caught sea trout from well-managed fisheries, such as a rod & line fisheries. Avoid eating fresh sea trout caught during the breeding or spawning season from November to March inclusive. Buying organic farmed trout is the best choice as fish stocking densities are generally lower in comparison to non-organic farms, feed is sourced sustainably and fish welfare is higher. Rainbow trout is widely farmed in UK, mainly in freshwater. Farming takes place mainly in ponds, tanks 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. Buying organic farmed trout is the best choice to make as fish stocking densities are generally lower in comparison to non-organic farms, feed is sourced sustainably and welfare of a high standard.
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Production country — Europe
Production method — Open system (pond and raceway)
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Production country — UK
Production method — Freshwater pond without recirculation
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Tuna, albacore
Thunnus alalunga
Albacore are a moderate sized tuna that are primarily sold as fresh or frozen steaks and can also be used raw as sashimi.
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, South (FAO 41,47)
Stock area — South Atlantic
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Atlantic, North (FAO 21,27) and Central (FAO 31,34)
Stock area — North Atlantic
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Atlantic, South (FAO 41,47)
Stock area — South Atlantic
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, South (FAO 81,87) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — American Samoa, Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji,French Polynesia, High Seas, New Zealand
Stock detail —
Certified fleets only
Certification —
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — North Pacific
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — North Pacific
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Troll
Capture area — Pacific, South (FAO 81,87) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — South Pacific
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Tuna, bigeye
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna is a relatively large species of tuna, though not as large as bluefin, which is able to tolerate colder waters than the smaller tunas and is commonly found at greater depths. Bigeye is often sold as fresh or frozen steaks and
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is also used raw as sashimi.
Bigeye tuna is a large tuna species (up to 2.5m long!) which needs to be well managed to prevent it being overexploited. It's mainly caught in longline and purse seine fisheries. Bigeye tuna fisheries in the Western & Central Pacific and Indian Oceans are in a pretty healthy state but management needs to be improved to ensure it stays that way. The fishing pressure is bit too high in the Eastern Pacific fishery and bigeye stock in the Atlantic remains in a significantly overfished state. A lot of juvenile bigeye are caught in purse seine fisheries that target skipjack tuna which is used in tinned tuna. The accidental catch of vulnerable species like sharks is also of concern in longline fisheries. Smaller scale pole and line, and troll fisheries are more selective and represent the best choice.
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Tuna, skipjack
Euthynnus pelamis, Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack are a relatively small tuna (growing to a metre in length) and sometimes sold as 'bonito' though this is a different species of fish. Skipjack is primarily sold in cans.
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Indian Ocean, Western (FAO 51) and Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — The Republic of Maldives EEZ
Stock detail —
Certified fleets only
Certification —
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Indian Ocean, Western (FAO 51) and Eastern ( FAO 57)
Stock area — All Areas
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Atlantic, Western (FAO 21,31,41)
Stock area — West Atlantic
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Capture method — Pole & line
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail —
All Areas
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Tuna, yellowfin
Thunnus albacares
A big bulky tuna, though not as large as bluefin, found in tropical or subtropical climates. The tail and some fins are yellow, the rest of the body a glistening dark blue, silvery on the underside. Yellowfin can be canned, sold as steaks
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or even raw as sashimi.
Yellowfin tuna is a large tuna species that is often sold as tuna steaks in the UK. The population in the Western & Central Pacific is in good shape at the moment. Stocks in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific are Ocean are doing reasonably well but catches have been too high in recent years, and the Indian Ocean stock is overfished and catches remain too high. Yellowfin is mainly caught in longline and purse seine fisheries. The accidental catch of vulnerable species like sharks is of concern in the longline fisheries. The catch rate of sharks and other vulnerable species in purse seine fisheries is low, but because the scale of these fisheries is so big, they can still have a large impact on these species. Purse seine fisheries can also catch a lot of juvenile tunas. Smaller scale pole & line, hand line and troll fisheries are more selective and a better choice. Some yellowfin fisheries are certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) as sustainable, well managed fisheries, so look for their blue ecolabel on tuna products.
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Capture method — Longline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Western and Central Pacific
Stock detail —
Certified fleets only
Certification —
Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
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Capture method — Pole & line; Handline
Capture area — Pacific, North West (FAO 61) and Central (FAO 71,77)
Stock area — Philippines, Indo, PNG
Stock detail —
Philippines, Indo, Vietnam, PNG EEZs
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Turbot (Caught at sea)
Psetta maxima
One of the most expensive fish - once a symbol of luxury and ostentation - turbot belongs to a small family of left-eyed flatfish (both eyes on the left of the body). It is mainly supplied to and sold by the restaurant trade. Turbot may
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be baked, grilled or poached. Farmed turbot is available whole, usually as 1 to 5 kg fish.
There is very little management of turbot fisheries and a general absence of stock data, insufficient to evaluate stock status. Available information suggests the North Sea stock biomass, where 90% of the catches in the Northeast Atlantic are taken, is now increasing but from a low level, and where fishing mortality has decreased in recent years. Given the poor state of knowledge and lack of management, it is difficult to regard wild caught turbot as a sustainable choice. Farmed turbot, with a tendency towards on-shore, lower impact tank culture, provides a more sustainable alternative, whilst a niche market for wild trap or line-caught fish is also an option. Avoid eating wild-caught turbot during its spawning season, April to August, and below the size at which it matures, 30 cms.
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Capture method — Hook & line
Capture area — North East Atlantic (FAO 27)
Stock area — North Sea
Stock detail —
IV
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Capture method — Trap
Capture area — North East Atlantic (FAO 27)
Stock area — North Sea
Stock detail —
IV
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Turbot (Farmed)
Psetta maxima
One of the most expensive fish - once a symbol of luxury and ostentation - turbot belongs to a small family of left-eyed flatfish (both eyes on the left of the body. It is mainly supplied to and sold by the restaurant trade. Turbot may be
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baked, grilled or poached. Farmed turbot is available whole, usually as 1 to 5 kg fish.
The farming of turbot is a fairly recent development. Unlike open net pen fish farming such as salmon, turbot are farmed in enclosed land-based flow through systems that have little or no direct environmental impact. However turbot are a carnivorous species which require a high percentage of fishmeal and fish-oil in their diet, which makes them a net user of fish protein rather than a net provider. The wild fish on which they rely cannot be assured to come from a sustainable supply.
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Production country — Europe
Production method — Onshore open circuit system
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