Atlantic Cod (except line-caught Icelandic)

• Most Atlantic cod stocks are depleted and in decline, according to independent scientists.
  
  
• Stocks in the North Sea and Eastern Baltic Sea are so critically low that scientists have recommended that cod fishing should be drastically reduced in the North Sea and stopped in the Eastern Baltic.
  
  
• Most cod are caught by demersal trawling which catches a high numbers of unwanted immature fish and non-target species that live on or near the seabed. In the North Sea on average nearly 51% of cod by number are discarded from this type of trawl. This bycatch is thrown back into the sea, dead or dying.
  
  
• Stocks in Iceland are better managed. Choose line-caught cod to minimise the impact on other species.

Plaice

• Many stocks of plaice are under great pressure in European waters. Large, mature plaice are now very rare.
  
  
• Like most flatfish, plaice are often caught by a particularly destructive type of bottom trawling known asbeam trawling – heavy nets and chains are dragged over the sea bed ploughing up everything in their path.
  
  
• Up to 70% of the total catch is thrown back in to the sea, dead or dying.
  
  

Tuna (all species except Skipjack)

• All stocks of all species of tuna are fished at full capacity, and many are declining or depleted.
  
  
• Northern bluefin tuna is listed as endangered in the Eastern Atlantic, and critically endangered in the Western Atlantic. Southern bluefin tuna is critically endangered. Albacore tuna is vulnerable in the North Atlantic, and critically endangered in the South Atlantic. Globally, big eye tuna is vulnerable, and endangered in the Pacific.
  
  
• There are two main methods used to catch tuna. Purse seines are associated with a high bycatch of young tuna and other fish species, as well as endangered turtles, sharks, and marine mammals. Long-lines are associated with a high bycatch of other fish species such as swordfish, marlin, other billfish, and sharks, as well as endangered turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds.
  
  
• Preference should be given to skipjack tuna (generally the healthiest stock) that is caught from pole and line or troll fisheries.
  
  

Tropical prawns (farmed and wild)

• Wild caught tropical prawns are caught by bottom trawl and have one of the highest bycatch rates – overall, trawls for tropical prawns are responsible for 35% of the world's bycatch. For every 1 kg of prawns, over 10 kg of other marine life is thrown away. Among this bycatch are endangered species such as sea turtles.
  
  
• Farming tropical prawns has significant detrimental impacts on the environment, particularly through destruction of mangrove forests and pollution.
  
  
• There are many human rights issues associated with tropical prawn farms that impact local people, including the loss of land and fishing grounds, poor workers rights, and the use of intimidation and violence.
  

Haddock (except line-caught Icelandic)

• Many haddock stocks are under great pressure.
  
  
• Haddock is usually caught in mixed fisheries that catch cod and other depleted fish species.
  
  
• Like cod, haddock is mostly caught by demersal trawling, which catches a high numbers of unwanted immature fish and non-target species that live on or near the seabed. This bycatch is thrown back into the sea, dead or dying. In the North Sea on average nearly 49% of haddock by number are discarded from this type of trawl.
  
  
• Stocks in Iceland are healthier and are better managed. Choose line-caught haddock to minimise the impact on other species.
  

European Hake

• Although the northern hake stock is recovering from previously low levels, the southern stock (around Portugal and Spain) has been depleted for many years, and scientists have recommended closing this fishery since 2004.


• Hake are caught by a variety of methods, most commonly trawling. Bottom trawls have a high bycatch and impact the seabed, while pair trawls are associated with bycatch of dolphins. Gill nets for hake are associated with a high rate of capture of immature fish which are discarded, and also kill dolphins and porpoises.


• Hake are a slow-growing, late maturing species which makes them vulnerable to over-exploitation.

Atlantic Halibut

• Atlantic, or white, halibut stocks are depleted throughout the NW and NE Atlantic, and the species is listed as endangered.
  
  
• Halibut are commonly caught by bottom trawling which catches a high numbers of unwanted immature fish and non-target species that live on or near the seabed. This bycatch is thrown back into the sea, dead or dying.
  
  
• This species is also slow-growing and late to mature, which makes it vulnerable to over-fishing.
  
  

Dover Sole

• Some stocks around the UK are depleted.
  
  
• Like most flatfish, Dover sole are often caught by a particularly destructive type of bottom trawling known as beam trawling – heavy nets and chains are dragged over the sea bed ploughing up everything in their path.
  
  
• Up to 70% of the total catch from beam trawlers is unwanted and is thrown back into the sea, dead or dying.
  
  
• MSC certified dover sole comes from well managed fisheries.

Monkfish

• Scientists have too little data to produce accurate advice for stocks around the UK. The stock around Portugal and Spain has been depleted for many years.
  
  
• Monkfish are caught using bottom trawls or gills nets. Bottom trawls have a high bycatch and impact the seabed, while gill nets are associated with a high rate of capture of immature fish which are discarded, and also kill dolphins and porpoises.
  
  
• The species is also slow-growing and late to mature, which makes it vulnerable to exploitation.
  
  

Atlantic Salmon (wild and farmed)

• Wild Atlantic salmon stocks are severely depleted and are believed to have halved in the last 20 years. Atlantic salmon is listed as a threatened.
  
  
• Salmon are intensively farmed – the resulting diseases spread to wild fish, and chemicals, antibiotics and waste from farms pollute the environment.
  
  
• Over 3 kg of wild-caught fish are needed to produce 1 kg of salmon, which increases pressure on marine ecosystems rather than reducing it.
  
  
• If buying farmed salmon then those certified as organic have the highest environmental standards in the aquaculture industry. The main organic certifier, the Soil Association, is raising its standards to ensure that any wild-caught fish used in farmed fish feed is minimized and sourced sustainably.
  
  

Swordfish

• Atlantic stocks are listed as endangered. The Indian Ocean stock – from where 30% of our swordfish is supplied– is depleted. Other stocks are declining or there is little data available to scientists to determine stock levels. Only Eastern Pacific Ocean stocks of swordfish are considered relatively healthy.
  
  
• Long-lining is the main fishing method used to catch swordfish. It is associated with a high bycatch rate of young swordfish, other fish species such as bluefin tuna, marlin and sharks, as well as endangered turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds.
  
  
• Swordfish are also large predators in the food chain - large reductions in their population levels have significant implications for the stability of marine ecosystems.
  
  

Marlin

• Most stocks of most species of marlin are considered declining, depleted or there is little data available to scientists to determine stock levels.
  
  
• Long-lining is the main fishing method used to catch marlins. It is associated with a high bycatch rate of other fish species such as bluefin tuna and sharks, as well as endangered turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds.
  
  
• Marlin are also large predators in the food chain - large reductions in their population levels have significant implications for the stability of marine ecosystems.
  
  

Sharks (including dog fish or huss)

• Many shark species are over-fished, threatened or listed as endangered. An estimated one hundred million are killed every year.
  
  
• Sharks are caught by a variety of destructive fishing methods such as long-lining and bottom trawling, which are associated with high bycatch other fish species, as well as endangered turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds.
  
  
• All shark species are slow growing and late to mature with low reproductive rates - this makes them particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation.
  
  

Skates and Rays

• Many ray and skate populations are now severely depleted, with an increasing number of European species listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
  
  
• Most skates and rays are caught by bottom trawling which catches a high numbers of unwanted immature fish and non-target species that live on or near the seabed. This bycatch is thrown back into the sea, dead or dying.
  
  
• These species are also slow growing and late to mature and therefore vulnerable to over-fishing.