Fish are an excellent source of a variety of vitamins and minerals including Omega 3. However if we want to ensure there are enough fish to eat in the future, we need to start thinking about the choices we make when choosing the fish we eat.

Overfishing is considered to be the biggest threat to marine wildlife and habitats, with many fish stocks around the world depleted. Added to this is the fact that our consumption of fish has increased in the UK and across Europe.

With all the articles in the press stating the unhealthy state of world fish stocks it’s easy to become disheartened, but fear not fish are a renewable resource if properly managed and it is possible to choose quality fish, without the guilt trip. The good news is that consumers can make a difference which doesn’t involve giving up fish. So here’s what you can do to help to play your part:-

• Try to ensure the fish you eat comes from a responsibly managed source regardless of what fish it is! This is important because stocks of certain species of fish might be declining in some areas but not in others. A prime example of this is that cod stocks in the North Sea are heavily depleted whereas stocks from the Norwegian and Barents Seas (where our cod comes from!) are regarded as being much healthier.
• When dining out don’t be afraid to ask questions about the fish on the menu. If a restaurant serves sustainably sourced fish its good practice to have a written policy. They should also know where their fish came from and how sustainable it is! Of course we don’t preach what we don’t practice so feel free to ask our staff questions about the fish we serve, and if we don’t know we’ll do our best to find out (we’re only human after all!).
• Look for assurance scheme logos such as the Marine Stewardship Council’s 'blue tick'. If you can’t find any assured products check the label, this should say what species it is and where it comes from.
• Remember the old adage variety is the spice of life! Just as it’s important for us to eat different fruit and veg this is also true for fish. Different fish have different nutritional values whilst all have omega 3 in them oily fish such as mackerel have much higher levels than white fish. Varying the fish we eat also helps to alleviate pressures on stocks. We have lots of different fish for you to try at Harbour Lights, all sustainably sourced of course!

Tasty Alternatives

For fish and chips lovers it’s fair to say that cod is a firm favourite! Although we love cod (especially Sam cod) why not try being adventurous and try some of the other varieties of fish we serve? Here are a few tasty alternatives to cod that you might like to try next time you pay us a visit. 

Pollock (Cornish), line caught off St. Ives Bay, it’s slightly milder in taste than cod with large flakes of white meat.

Hake (Cornish), a sweet flavoured fish, more subtle than cod. Its flesh is soft but soon firms up after cooking.

Whiting, a much maligned member of the cod family, milder in taste than cod, tastes delicious fried in batter served with a portion of chips.

If that’s not enough to tantalize your taste buds we also sell old favourites like haddock and plaice as well as sea bass, lemon sole and mackerel. We are also looking to expand our range of sustainable fish to offer you yet more choice! So it’s a fins up from Sam Cod and a good bye from me, until my next instalment that is!