The number of sustainable seafood species sold in UK retailers has increased, according to the Marine Stewardship Council’s latest market report.
The NGO’s research showed there were 49 different sustainably sourced species available to UK and Irish consumers compared to 45 last year.
This is an increase from 26 species 10 years ago, which the organisation said showed “the commitment to supply sustainable seafood options held across the UK retail sector”.
“Although seafood consumers in the UK rarely venture beyond the ‘big five’ species – salmon, tuna, cod, prawns and haddock – which account for a staggering 60% to 80% of all seafood consumed across the country, there are signs that shoppers are becoming more interested in trying new species,” said Seth McCurry, MSC UK & Ireland senior commercial manager.
Among the new sustainable species available are MSC-labelled European lobster from Jersey on sale at Selfridges, and Whole Foods’ MSC-certified red king crab.
Waitrose also introduced clams from Poole Harbour and king scallops from Shetland in the past two years.
Meanwhile, Cornish sardines have become more of a feature on retailers’ shelves with the species appearing in products in Aldi, Iceland, Ocado and Tesco.
The combined effort has resulted in a 59% increase in the number of MSC-labelled shellfish products on offer to shoppers in the UK and Ireland over the past five years.
“It’s fantastic that consumers are buying locally-caught species such as Scottish coley, Shetland scallops, and Cornish hake and sardines,” McCurry added. “It means fishing communities and the livelihoods that are reliant on these species are supported, while ensuring a sustainable supply of seafood for future generations.”
MSC-labelled products accounted for an estimated 54% of the value and 51% of the volume of all wild-caught fish and seafood sold in UK retail in 2022, the MSC said.
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