Marine Conservation Society Issues Warning on UK-Caught Cod
Consumers are being urged to “completely avoid” purchasing UK-caught cod, according to the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which has highlighted that cod populations have reached a critically low level despite recommendations for zero catch.
The MCS, an environmental charity, publishes the Good Fish Guide aimed at helping consumers and businesses make sustainable seafood choices. On Thursday, the organization downgraded all UK-caught cod to the lowest rating, advising consumers to select European hake as a flaky white fish alternative.
Kerry Lyne, Good Fish Guide manager, described the downgrade as a “warning signal” and emphasized the need for the UK government to “address these concerns to allow stocks to recover.”
Similarly, the ratings for trawled scampi have been downgraded due to the same concerns. The guide now recommends only pot- or creel-caught scampi.
Decline of Cod Populations and Contributing Factors
Cod populations have been declining since 2015. The primary cause is overfishing, although changes in sea temperatures and other ecosystem pressures have also negatively impacted breeding and juvenile survival rates.
Last year, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) advised a zero-catch policy for cod in 2026 in the North Sea and adjacent waters. ICES warned that continuing commercial fishing at current levels could reduce cod populations below the threshold required for safe reproduction.
This advice has not been fully implemented. However, in December, Angela Eagle, the minister for food security and rural affairs, announced a 44% reduction in cod fishing quotas for 2026. This decision was reached during annual negotiations with the European Union and Norway regarding shared fish stocks.
At the time, fishers expressed being “reluctantly resigned to the cut” as they were observing fewer cod than usual.
Broader Concerns Over Fish Stocks and Industry Responses
Concerns about cod fishing mirror those raised about mackerel around the same time last year. Persistent overfishing, driven by quota disagreements between the UK and neighboring coastal countries, led to mackerel being removed from the Good Fish Guide’s recommended list.
More recently, Waitrose announced plans to stop selling UK-caught cod by 29 April, citing the necessity to maintain fishing within “sustainable limits.”
Last year, the government’s allowed catch level for mackerel was set 32% above the ICES advice.
Chris Graham, head of sustainable seafood at the MCS, stated: “It’s deeply concerning seeing so many of our iconic fisheries – from cod to mackerel – under increasing pressure.”
He supported Lyne’s call for the government to take decisive action in transitioning to low-impact fishing practices to “help rebuild stocks and reduce reliance on imports.” Approximately 80% of the seafood consumed in the UK is imported.
Recommendations for Sustainable Seafood Choices
The MCS has encouraged consumers to consider more sustainable alternatives to UK cod, such as Icelandic cod, which is abundant and not subject to overfishing. European hake is recommended as a sustainable local option, as is haddock, particularly if caught in the North Sea or west of Scotland.
Other sustainable seafood options include seabass or plaice from the North Sea, as well as UK-farmed seafood such as blue mussels and freshwater trout.
The MCS updates its Good Fish Guide advice twice annually, based on the latest scientific data, focusing on stock levels and management plans.
