British-caught cod, scampi and mackerel should be removed from menus to ease pressure on popular seafood, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has warned, citing sharp declines in several UK fish stocks.
The environmental charity updates its Good Fish Guide twice a year to reflect the latest scientific advice. This week, it downgraded UK cod to its lowest ‘red’ rating, urging consumers and retailers to “completely avoid” it.
UK cod populations have been declining since 2015 due to overfishing, rising sea temperatures, and wider ecosystem pressures affecting breeding and juvenile survival.
Consumers are also advised to avoid trawler-caught langoustine (scampi) because of overfishing. Only langoustine caught by pot and creel in areas such as the North Minch, South Minch, Skagerrak and Kattegat receive the guide’s top ‘green’ rating.
Mackerel has also been removed from the recommended list due to severe stock declines driven by overfishing, with populations falling by about 75% over the past decade. Waitrose has announced it will suspend sales of North East Atlantic mackerel, removing all fresh, chilled and frozen products from shelves from 29 April.
The MCS says alternatives are available. European hake and sustainably sourced haddock from the North Sea or west of Scotland are recommended in place of cod, while Icelandic cod is considered a more sustainable option for those unwilling to switch.
For scampi, Scottish farmed king prawns offer a lower-impact alternative. Other sustainable choices include seabass from the North Sea, English Channel and Celtic Sea, plaice from the North Sea, and UK-farmed seafood such as blue mussels and freshwater trout.
The UK imports about 80% of the seafood it consumes, raising environmental concerns. The MCS is calling for stronger fisheries management to rebuild domestic stocks and reduce reliance on imports.
“We need strong action from the UK government to support a transition to low-impact fisheries and sustainable seafood farming,” said Chris Graham, head of sustainable seafood and ocean regeneration at MCS.
In 2025, the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea recommended a zero-catch policy for cod in the North Sea and adjacent waters for 2026. Following negotiations with the EU and Norway, fisheries minister Dame Angela Eagle announced a 44% cut in cod fishing for 2026, alongside new protections including seasonal closures and tighter restrictions on targeting cod.
Top image credit: Jakub Kapusnak / Unsplash
