Responsible Seafood
Ever wondered where the fish you eat comes from? Or if you are choosing the right ones? Use the Good Fish Guide to make a sustainable choice.
The future of the fish supper is no longer guaranteed. Many fish stocks are in a state of serious decline, with overfishing a great threat to marine wildlife and habitats. With 90% of world fish stocks fully or over-exploited from fishing, plus pressure from climate change and pollution, we’re moving into dangerous waters when it comes to the fish of the future.
We are leading the way on changing habits. You can help reduce the strain on certain species by demanding that the fish you eat comes from sustainably managed stocks and is caught or farmed in a way that causes minimal damage to the marine environment and other wildlife. Doing the right thing is easier than you think. Check out our Good Fish Guide and download the free app.
Find the most sustainable fish finger with our new Good Fish Finger Guide.
Good Fish Guide
Use the Good Fish Guide to find out which fish you should choose to eat and which you should avoid.
Download the app. or .pdf
Download the MCS award winning Good Fish Guide app for FREE
from the Apple App store
and Google Play Store or download our .pdf guide
Sustainable seafood recipes
Recipes for fish in season, every month of the year, from top celebrity chefs
who are passionate about using fish from sustainable sources.
Good Fish Finger Guide
Find the most sustainable supermarket own brand and branded fish fingers with the Good Fish Finger Guide
More information and campaigns to get behind…
How is my seafood caught & farmed?
Fish can be caught and farmed in numerous different ways. Our guide details the main methods that are used.
Find out more
Our Good Fish Guide as a .pdf
We produce a summary of the advice contained in our online Good Fish Guide as a .pdf
Download the .pdf
Policy Papers
MCS has developed a number of policy statements and information notes, intended to provide detailed information on some of the more complex issues associated with sustainable fisheries and seafood production.
Read MCS's position papers
Aquaculture Planning Guidance
A comprehensive guide to the planning process for Scottish aquaculture
Download our .pdf guide
Our fish ratings explained
Each of the fish included on the MCS websites have been given a rating to enable you to quickly identify species that are considered to be sustainably produced, and those species which are not.
Find out more
Fish translations
While the species names (in Latin) remain the same around the world, common names for fish vary. Even within the same country, one kind of fish can have many common names! Learn more in our translation guide.
Download the .pdf
Buying seasonal fish
If you enjoy eating fresh fish but are unsure of how seasonality affects their sustainability, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has produced a handy guide to the best choices for those fresh, wild caught fish that we rate
Download the .pdf guide
Did you know?…
MCS launched the Good Fish Guide in 2001 to help people make good seafood choices
Over the last century, we have lost around 90% of the biggest predatory oceanic fish, such as tuna, swordfish and sharks
1 billion people, largely in developing countries, rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein
What's your impact on our seas?
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.
Make the right choice and reduce your impact - every purchase matters!
See our top tips