Buying local seafood
80% of the seafood we eat in the UK comes from what we call the big five: cod, haddock, salmon, tuna and prawns. Most of this is imported, and that means it's contributing to global carbon emissions.
Our UK fishermen and fish farms catch and produce dozens of different species, from langoustines and mussels to hake and plaice. Many of these can be very sustainable options, and they're highly sought after – but not by us. We export about 70% of the seafood we catch to mainland Europe or further abroad.
It's important to note that 'local' does not automatically mean 'sustainable'. There are lots of things to improve about how fishing and aquaculture is managed and carried out in the UK. But there are some great options that we think people should consider, so that we can all support our sustainable, local fishers and fish farmers.
Find the best choice of seafood near you
| Area | Seafood | Fishing method |
|---|---|---|
| Shetland | Brown crab | Pot/creel |
| North Sea and West of Scotland | Megrim | Demersal otter trawl |
| North Sea | Haddock | Demersal otter trawl/demersal seine net/longline |
| North Sea | Dab | Demersal otter trawl/demersal seine net |
| West of Scotland | Langoustines | Pot/creel |
| Dee Estuary | Cockles | Hand gathering |
| Cornwall | Hake | Gill/fixed net |
| Lyme Bay | King Scallop | Hand-dived |
| Jersey | European Lobster | Pot/creel |
| English Channel | Brill | Bottom trawl/static net |
Best choice for UK farmed seafood
Mussels (Suspended rope culture/Bottom culture)
Rainbbow trout (Freshwater ponds)
King and Queen scallops (Suspended rope culture/Bottom culture)
Arctic char (Tanks, flow through)
