UK-based Marine Conservation Society’s Good Fish Guide uses scientific information from reputable and peer-reviewed sources to generate ratings for over 140 different species. Wild capture ratings are reviewed annually and farmed ratings are reviewed every three years, and updated ratings are released on a biannual basis. See below for the latest changes made in 2020, and for a complete list of species updated (year to date) .
Winter 2020 Updates
Species Name | Origin | Method | Old GFG Rating | New GFG Rating |
Anchovy, European | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Ring net | ||
Brill | North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, English Channel | Beam trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Cod, Atlantic | Baltic Sea (East) | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Baltic Sea (West) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Iceland (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Longline | ||||
Irish Sea | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Kattegat | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Demersal seine | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
North Sea, Eastern English Channel, Skagerrak | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Northeast Arctic (Barents and Norwegian Sea) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Northeast Arctic (Barents and Norwegian Sea) (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Norwegian Coast | All fishing methods | |||
Rockall | Demersal otter trawl | |||
West of Scotland | Demersal otter trawl | |||
West Greenland | Pound net | |||
All fishing methods | ||||
Cod, Pacific | Alaska - Aleutian Islands (MSC) | Longline | ||
Pelagic trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Pot/creel | ||||
Alaska - Bering Sea (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | UNDER REVIEW | ||
Jig | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Longline | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Pot/creel | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Alaska - Gulf of Alaska (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | UNDER REVIEW | ||
Longline | ||||
Pot/creel | ||||
Trap | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Japan - North Pacific (Tohoku) | All fishing methods | |||
Japan - Sea of Japan | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Japan - Sea of Okhotsk | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Longline | ||||
Japan - South Hokkaido | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Japan - West Hokkaido | All fishing methods | |||
Russia - Western Bering Sea and Chukotskaya, Karaginskaya, & Petropavlovsko-Komandorskaya subzones | Danish seine | |||
Demersal otter trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |||
Russia - Western Bering Sea and Chukotskaya, Karaginskaya, & Petropavlovsko-Komandorskaya subzones (MSC) | Longline | UNDER REVIEW | ||
Crab, Velvet Swimming | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Pot/creel | ||
Crawfish | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Dive caught | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Pot/creel | ||||
Cuttlefish | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Trap | ||||
Flounder | North Sea | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Flounder, Witch | North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel | Demersal otter trawl | ||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Haddock | Iceland (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Longline | ||||
Seine net | ||||
Irish Sea | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
North Sea, West of Scotland, Skagerrak (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Seine | ||||
North Sea, West of Scotland, Skagerrak | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Demersal seine | ||||
Longline | ||||
Northeast Arctic (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Longline | ||||
Northeast Arctic | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Longline | ||||
Rockall (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Rockall | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Longline | ||||
Hake, European | Greater North Sea, Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay (North) - Northern stock | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Longline | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Demersal otter trawl | |||
United Kingdom - Cornwall (MSC) | Gill or fixed net | |||
Halibut, Atlantic | Atlantic Ocean - Northeast | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Norway | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Longline | ||||
Herring | Baltic Sea (Central) | Gill or fixed net | ||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
Purse seine | ||||
Celtic Sea (West of Scotland), Irish Sea (West of Ireland) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Irish Sea (North) (MSC) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Irish Sea (North) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Irish Sea (South), Celtic Sea, and southwest of Ireland | Pelagic trawl | |||
North Sea, eastern English Channel | Drift net | |||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
Purse seine | ||||
North Sea, eastern English Channel (MSC) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Purse seine | ||||
Skagerrak and Kattegat | Pelagic trawl | |||
Purse seine | ||||
Baltic Sea (West), Skagerrak and Kattegat | Gill or fixed net | |||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
Purse seine | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Drift net | |||
Ring net | ||||
Megrim | Celtic Sea, west and southwest of Ireland, Bay of Biscay | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Northern North Sea, West of Scotland | Demersal otter trawl | |||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Monkfish, Black-Bellied Anglerfish | Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Monkfish, White Anglerfish | Southern Celtic Seas, Bay of Biscay | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gillnet | ||||
Mussel, Blue | United Kingdom | Suspended culture | ||
On-bottom culture | ||||
United Kingdom (ASC) | Suspended culture | |||
On-bottom culture | ||||
United Kingdom (MSC) | Suspended culture | |||
On-bottom culture | ||||
Plaice | Baltic Sea | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Celtic Sea, Bristol Channel | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
English Channel (East) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
English Channel (West) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Irish Sea | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
North Sea, Skagerrak | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Pulse trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |||
West of Ireland | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Seine net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Pollack | Celtic Seas, West of Scotland | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Handline | ||||
North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Handline | ||||
Pollock, Alaska | Alaska - Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (MSC) | Pelagic trawl | ||
Alaska - Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands | Pelagic trawl | |||
Alaska - Gulf of Alaska (MSC) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Alaska - Gulf of Alaska | Pelagic trawl | |||
Russia - Sea of Okhotsk (MSC) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Russia - Western Bering Sea | Pelagic trawl | |||
Russia - Western Bering Sea (Navarinsky stock) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Pouting | Celtic and Irish Seas, Bristol and English Channels | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Prawn, Endeavour, Greasy Back | Indian Ocean (East) | Beam trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |
Prawn, Northern | North Sea (Norwegian Deep), Skagerrak and Kattegat (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | ||
North Sea (Norwegian Deep), Skagerrak and Kattegat | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Northeast Arctic - Barents Sea (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Northeast Arctic - Barents Sea | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Disko Bay and West Greenland (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Saithe | Iceland (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
North Sea, West of Scotland and Rockall, Skagerrak (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
North Sea, West of Scotland and Rockall, Skagerrak | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Northeast Arctic | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Purse seine | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Salmon, Atlantic | Europe (Organic) | Open net pen | ||
Scotland | Open net pen | |||
Scotland, Norway, and Faroes (GLOBALG.A.P.) | Open net pen | |||
Faroe Islands | Open net pen | |||
Norway | Open net pen | |||
Scotland and Norway (BAP 3/4-star) | Open net pen | |||
Chile | Open net pen | |||
Denmark | RAS - recirculating aquaculture systems (with wastewater treatment) | |||
Scotland and Norway (ASC) | Open net pen | |||
Atlantic Ocean - Northeast (areas and rivers not achieving conservation limits) | Drift and fixed net | |||
Atlantic Ocean - Northeast (England and Wales 'Not at risk' rivers) | Drift and fixed net | |||
Atlantic Ocean - Northeast (Scotland, Grade 2/3 rivers) | Drift and fixed net | |||
Scad, Horse Mackerel | Skagerrak and Kattegat, southern and central North Sea, eastern English Channel | Pelagic trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |
Atlantic Iberian waters | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Purse seine | ||||
Norwegian Sea, northern North Sea, Celtic Seas, Cantabrian Sea, southern English Channel, Bay of Biscay | Pelagic trawl | |||
Purse seine | ||||
Scallop, King | Scotland | Suspended culture | ||
On-bottom culture | ||||
North Sea (Central) - Scotland (0-3nm) - 4b (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (Central) - Scotland (3-12nm) - 4b (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (Central) - England (except North Eastern IFCA district) (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (Central) - North Eastern IFCA district (0-6nm) (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (Central) - Dogger Bank | Dredge | |||
North Sea (North) - Scotland (0-3nm) - 4a (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (North) - Shetland (0-6nm) (MSC) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (North) - Scotland (3-12nm) - 4a (FIP) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (North) - Shetland (6-12nm) | Dredge | |||
North Sea (North) - Orkney | Dive caught | |||
West of Scotland (0-3nm) - 6a | Dive caught | |||
West of Scotland (0-3nm) - 6a (FIP) | Dredge | |||
West of Scotland (3-12nm) - 6a (FIP) | Dredge | |||
Scallop, Queen | Scotland | Suspended culture | ||
On-bottom culture | ||||
Sea Bass, European | North Sea - Central and South, Irish Sea, English Channel, Bristol Channel, Celtic Sea | Demersal 'Danish' seine | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Handline | ||||
Bay of Biscay - North and Central | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Handline | ||||
Longline | ||||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
Seine net | ||||
Bay of Biscay (South) and Atlantic Iberian waters | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Handline | ||||
Longline | ||||
Pelagic trawl | ||||
Purse seine | ||||
West of Scotland, West of Ireland, eastern part of southwest of Ireland | All fishing methods | |||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Demersal trawl | |||
Gillnet | ||||
Handline | ||||
Seriola | Netherlands (ASC) | RAS - recirculating aquaculture systems (with wastewater treatment) | ||
Netherlands (BAP 2-star) | RAS - recirculating aquaculture systems (with wastewater treatment) | |||
Australia (ASC) | Open net pen | |||
Sole, Common | Baltic Sea (West), Skagerrak and Kattegat | Demersal otter trawl | ||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Celtic Sea (South), southwest of Ireland | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Celtic Sea, Bristol Channel | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
English Channel (East) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
English Channel (West) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Irish Sea | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
North Sea | Beam trawl | |||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Pulse trawl | UNDER REVIEW | |||
West of Ireland | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Gill or fixed net | |||
United Kingdom - Cornwall (North Coast) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall (South Coast) | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Sole, Lemon | North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat, eastern English Channel | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Seine net | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Sole, Sand | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Sprat, Whitebait | North Sea, Skagerrak and Kattegat | Pelagic trawl | ||
Sound and Belt Sea or the Transition Area and the Baltic Sea | Pelagic trawl | |||
English Channel (West) | Pelagic trawl | |||
Turbot | North Sea | Beam trawl | ||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gill or fixed net | ||||
Trap | ||||
United Kingdom - Cornwall | Beam trawl | |||
Demersal otter trawl | ||||
Gillnet | ||||
Whelk, Common | Celtic Sea, southwest coast of England - Cornwall IFCA: 0-6nm | Pot/creel | ||
English Channel (East) - Sussex IFCA: 0-6nm | Pot/creel | |||
Irish Sea, Celtic Sea: St. Georges Channel, Bristol Channel | Pot/creel | |||
Irish Sea, northwest coast of England | Pot/creel | |||
North Sea, east coast of England | Pot/creel | |||
North Sea, northeast coast of England - North Eastern IFCA 0-6nm | Pot/creel | |||
North Sea, northeast coast of England - Northumberland IFCA 0-6nm | Pot/creel | |||
North Sea, southeast coast of England | Pot/creel | |||
United Kingdom | Pot/creel | |||
English Channel (West) - Southern IFCA 0-6nm | Pot/creel | |||
English Channel (West) - Jersey Territorial Sea 0-12nm | Pot/creel | |||
English Channel (West) and Bristol Channel | Pot/creel | |||
Whiting | North Sea, eastern English Channel | Demersal otter trawl | ||
North Sea, eastern English Channel (MSC) | Demersal otter trawl | |||
West of Scotland | Demersal otter trawl | |||
Wrasse, Ballan | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Gill or fixed net | ||
Wreckfish | United Kingdom - Cornwall | Hook & line |
Spring 2020 Updates
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Species Updates (Year to Date)
Abalone
- Abalone, Japanese
- Ormer, Green
Anchovy
- Anchovy, European
Bass - Croaker
- Bass, European Sea
Billfish - Shark - Swordfish
- Marlin, Blue
- Shark, Lesser Spotted Dogfish
- Shark, Spiny Dogfish
- Swordfish
Bream - Porgy
- Bream, Black Sea
- Bream, Gilt Headed
Clams
- Clam, Manila
- Clam, Razor
- Shell, Arched Razor
Cod - Haddock
- Cod, Atlantic
- Cod, Pacific
- Haddock, Atlantic
- Pouting
Crab
- Crab, Brown
- Crab, Velvet
Cuttlefish
- Cuttlefish, Common
Eel
- Eel, Conger
- Eel, European
Flounder - Sole
- Brill
- Dab, Common
- Flounder, European
- Flounder, Witch
- Megrim
- Sole, Atlantic
- Sole, Common
- Sole, Lemon
Hake - Hoki - Whiting
- Hake, Cape
- Hake, Deep-Water
- Hake, European
- Whiting, European
Halibut
- Halibut, Atlantic
- Halibut, Pacific
- Turbot
- Turbot, Greenland
Herring - Sardines - Smelt
- Herring, Atlantic
- Sardine, European
- Sprat, European
Lobster
- Lobster, European Spiny
- Lobster, Norway
Mackerel - Jacks - Pompano
- Ambertail, Yellowtail
- Mackerel, Atlantic Horse
Mullet
- Mullet, Red
- Mellet, Thicklip Gray
Mussels
- Mussels, Blue
Oysters
- Oyster, Edible
- Oyster, Pacific
Plaice
- Plaice, European
Pollock
- Pollock, Atlantic
- Pollock, European
- Pollock, Walleye
Rays - Skates
- Ray, Blonde
- Ray, Cuckoo
- Ray, Small-Eyed
- Ray, Spotted
- Ray, Thornback
- Skate, Thorny
Salmon
- Salmon, Atlantic
- Salmon, Chinook
- Salmon, Chum
- Salmon, Coho
- Salmon, Pink
- Salmon, Sockeye
Scallops
- Scallops, Giant
- Scallops, Queen
Shrimp - Prawns
- Prawn, Brown Tiger
- Prawn, Giant Tiger
- Prawn, Green Tiger
- Prawn, Red Endeavor
- Shrimp, Northern
- Shrimp, Whiteleg
Tuna
- Tuna, Albacore
- Tuna, Pacific Bluefin
- Tuna, Skipjack
- Tuna, Southern Bluefin
- Tuna, Yellowfin
Other Finfish
- Anglerfish
- Angler, Blackbellied
- Gurnard, Grey
- Gurnard, Red
- Meagre
- Parrotfish, Blue-Barred
- Parrotfish, Ember
- Wolffish
- Wrasse, Ballan
- Wreckfish