A LOOK AT THE RISE OF SUSTAINABLE FISHING IN RECENT YEARS

A look at the rise of sustainable fishing in recent years. Over the past decade, sustainable fishing has shifted from being a niche novelty to an expected quality of mainstream seafood. Now, more of us are thinking twice about where our fish come from, and the industry itself is beginning to take steps to protect our oceans. With more labels, transparency, and awareness around how the choices we make at the supermarket ripples across the globe, there’s real pressure on brands and suppliers to ensure, and prove, that their produce doesn’t contribute to overfishing, habitat destruction, or unwanted bycatch.

In 2023/2024, shoppers in the UK and Ireland spent a record-breaking £1.5 billion on seafood carrying the blue Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label – a rise of 12% from the previous year and the biggest surge since 2018. But what’s driving this demand for sustainable and responsible seafood? And how has the industry evolved to support it?

Let’s take a look.

Global environmental consciousness

For decades, industrial-scale fishing has been pushing many fish populations to the brink of extinction. Bluefin tuna was once seen in abundance in British waters, but became non-existent in the 1990s. In other regions, cod stocks collapsed and seabeds were scraped clean by bottom trawlers.

Now, with stricter regulations, seasonal closures, and selective fishing gear, the industry is giving the vulnerable and delicate species in our seas a chance to recover and boost their numbers. Many fisheries have changed how they operate, avoiding certain areas during spawning season and using escape panels in their nets to reduce the amount of unwanted sea creatures being caught. It’s a shift from ruthless extraction to environmental stewardship and responsible practices which has largely contributed to the prolonged health of the oceans.

Transparent labelling

Eco-labelling, most commonly the MSC or ASC logo on packaged seafood, means that the product meets strict standards for sustainability. These labels help to support consumer values and take the guesswork out of shopping, but for many eco-conscious people, that isn’t enough. Today, people value trust – they want solid data that proves their food doesn’t contribute to unethical or irresponsible environmental harm.

Transparent, public information around where seafood has been caught, accessible tracking data for vessels, and reports of illegal fishing all support the fishing industry to explain their actions and prove they are doing their best to protect our oceans.

Looking ahead

Though sustainable fishing has come a long way, there’s still a long way to go. Not all fisheries are practising responsibly, and illegal or unregulated fishing continues to threaten marine ecosystems worldwide. Climate change adds another layer of complexity, altering sea temperatures and shifting fish populations in ways that we’re only beginning to understand.

But across the UK, more fisheries are seeing the importance of sustainable practices, retailers are demanding traceability, and restaurants and individual consumers are asking the right questions. This transformation is an essential step in protecting our world for the future, and we are witnessing progress. With maintained momentum, solid certification frameworks, and strong governance, the delicate ecosystems of our waters should flourish.