The hardcore vegan life isn’t for everyone, and there’s no reason that you can’t indulge in a little carnivorous behaviour as long as you do so responsibly.
However, over-fishing and farming can cause some surprising and dangerous environmental consequences: including, weirdly enough, the disastrous effects of not having enough fish-piss in the ocean. To help keep your seafood choices informed, here’s a handy guide of the good, the bad and the ugly in the UK fishing game:
Good
Mussels (farmed or caught at sea)
Not only are mussels delicious and deeply aesthetic, but eating them also makes you feel like you’re on some kind of seaside holiday in the south of France. Tesco actually sells them with their own white-wine & garlic sauce, so alongside some trusty oven chips you can live your moules-frites fantasy from the comfort of your own home. Mussels are amazing because they basically can’t be over-farmed, and they even clean up the pollutants from the water that they live in. This is truly the mollusc of the future.
Fish fingers
Hearing that fish fingers were generally more sustainable than fish from the counter was honestly music to my ears. A staple for the lazy fish fan’s freezer, a hit with kids and adults alike, fish fingers are the best thing since sliced bread AND taste damn good inside it. As with all things, some are better than others – but in this case it tends to be the supermarket own brands that come out on top. Marine Conservation Society have published a full guide of which fish fingers are a thumbs up, and which you should give the finger here.
Oysters (farmed)
Despite being ultimately gross, oysters are somehow very aspirational – but it’s mildly reassuring to know that at least the 1%’s penchant for this shellfish is one of their more sustainable activities. Enjoy with a bottle of Don Perignon and limited environmental guilt, but if you’re eating them raw, make sure they’re from a reputable source as they can host some very nasty bacteria. To be safe, cook them first – and if you’re intending to use these as an aphrodisiac, you and your dining partner(s) definitely should be thinking about protection.
Also good: Clams, Cockles, Crabs, Mackerel
Bad
While it’s not a hard no on these, be aware that eating a lot of the following fishies is unsustainable. Be prepared – these are some of the most popular fish to eat in the UK, which, unsurprisingly, is a factor in why they’re struggling to stay afloat:
Haddock & Cod
Haddock & Cod are traditionally overfished breeds that are very popular at the chippy. It is no wonder that these plain, inoffensive fish are suited to the famously simple (some might say bland) flavours of British cuisine. One way you can enjoy them more responsibly is checking where they come from – for example, Marine Conversation Society’s Good Fish Guide recommends that the North East Arctic has sustainable stocks of both Cod and Haddock.
Tuna
If you can help it, it’s best not to buy and eat tuna. But if you do feel the need for a bit of this smelly feed, sourcing it sustainably can be a bit of a minefield. In the case of tinned tuna, the classic cupboard staple, it’s not necessarily a case of cost as to which is the more environmentally friendly. The Guardian recommends Tesco Everyday Value tuna chunks, while Ethical Consumer rate Waitrose and M&S most highly.
Prawns
Prawns are undoubtedly delicious, and I hope its some comfort that the most sustainable choice here is the modest small cold water prawns – the type you typically find in sandwiches, spaghetti dishes and prawn cocktails. Marine Conservation Society recommend that if they’re the size of a 20p piece, they’re a buy – and they’re likely to set you back a few less quid than their larger cousins. Tiger and King prawns – much like the Tiger King himself, are less reliable options. Scampi, unfortunately, also falls into this category. There is a great variety of prawn farming conditions across the globe, but if you’re desperate to stick a giant prawn on the barby, look out for an ASC certified sticker to make sure they’re farmed responsibly.
Also bad: Salmon (sorry)
Ugly
If you’re planning on eating fish that are as clearly rockin’ as the Guitarfish or a literal shark then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask what you’re trying to prove. As a rule of thumb – if it sounds really swish, do not eat this fish.
Also ugly:
- Bluefin tuna
- Eel
- Sharks (all types)
- Swordfish
- Orange roughy
- Skate
Photos via Canva
Alison Middleton is a PhD student studying laughter in tragedy, which is not nearly as funny as she had hoped. She started up Comedy vs Climate Change in 2019, back when live events were a thing we did (imagine?!). To address the deep void she usually filled with stand-up and sketch comedy, she’s recently taken her writing to publications like Funny Women and Chortle. She has amassed a small but loyal following of Facebook based reply-guys.