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Seafood Ratings Update

Posted on: 19th October 2021

Seafood Ratings Update
Following our latest bi-annual review of seafood ratings the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide website is now updated and our recommended list has been changed slightly.
 
 
Notable differences as follows: 
 

Bad news 

 
Due to increased evidence of over-fishing for squid and a lack of management of squid species our ratings have changed and squid is no longer on our recommended list,  although line caught squid is still highlighted as the best option for consumers wanting to eat it.. Additionally there are now separate ratings for the two species of squid landed to Cornish ports  –  veined squid and the European squid which have very different biology. 
 
 
Due to continued evidence of unwanted by catch of dolphins and porpoises, seals, seabirds and sharks and rays in monofilament bottom set gill nets our gill net scores have changed, affecting the ratings of some species. This has affected gill net caught brill, pollack, sand sole and black bellied monkfish all of which have moved from a 3 to a 4 rating.
 

Good news 

In light of excellent stock reports from ICES showing that plaice populations are healthy, plaice caught off Cornwall’s north coast have now got a better rating and demersal trawl caught plaice from that area now gets a rating of 2.
 
Still having great ratings are Cornish white Monkfish (stocks are doing very well), megrim and dover sole.
 
And keeping the very best rating for sustainability  (a rating of One) are farmed mussels and oysters and hand collected pacific oysters along with handline caught mackerel and MCS certified gill net caught hake.
 
Please visit this page to find a full, up to date list of our recommended species.
 

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Cornwall Good Seafood Guide
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Five Acres, Allet
Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ

+44 (0) 1872 302251 seafood@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk

Cornwall Good Seafood Guide is underpinned by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Good Fish Guide. The first UK consumer guide to sustainable seafood. For more information visit www.fishonline.org

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