People are being urged not to order cod unless they know
Experts say there is one word you need to look for when buying fish and chips after an ‘avoid’ warning was issued. The Marine Conservation Society (MSC) has downgraded all UK cod stocks and removed them from its list of sustainable seafood and The MSC’s Good Fish Guide now lists Atlantic cod from the Arctic, northern shelf, and British seas with the worst possible rating: “avoid” .
Ruth H. Thurstan, Associate Professor in Marine and Historical Ecology, University of Exeter, said the cod served in most fish and chip shops should be, unless specified as ‘Icelandic’.
Professor Thurstan says c od populations around the UK are so depleted that the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) has advised zero catches for some stocks for several years. She told The Conversation : “Catch limits have consistently been set above scientific advice, for example, allowing catches of around 14,000 tonnes of North Sea cod in 2026. This is no exception as 58% of all UK fishing quotas for 2026 exceed recommendations from ICES.”
She added: “ Even where quotas are reduced, recovery is hampered by how many fisheries operate in practice. Cod are frequently caught in mixed fisheries that primarily target other species such as haddock. However, the use of unselective and destructive gears such as bottom trawls (heavy fishing nets that get dragged along the seabed) means that cod continues to be removed from the ecosystem, even when it is not the intended target.
“Climate change adds further pressure. As waters warm, cod are forced northwards or into deeper waters, disrupting ecosystems and fisheries. Warmer seas can also affect reproduction, reducing the survival of eggs and larvae, while changes in ocean currents and availability of prey make it harder for populations to recover.
“Together, these factors mean that the outlook for local cod stocks is increasingly dire.
Atlantic cod that is caught in Iceland’s waters by long lines and nets remain a “best choice” in the Good Fish Guide. Atlantic cod caught from stocks around Britain are all labelled “avoid”, regardless of how they are caught.
Prof Thurstan said: “Asking where fish comes from and how it was caught can help drive demand towards better managed stocks. If that information is unavailable, switching to alternatives, such as hake, can reduce pressure on depleted cod populations. If you are not sure, check for the stocks and catch methods labelled green on the Good Fish Guide, or that have been awarded a blue tick from the Marine Stewardship Council.”
