The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and marine wildlife. Our seas are under threat – too much is being taken out, too much thrown in and too little is being done to protect our precious wildlife. MCS works to turn the tide on the neglect of our oceans. MCS believes consumers and businesses have a key role to play in securing the future health of our seas and marine wildlife by making environmentally responsible choices when buying seafood. This means avoiding fish that have come from poorly managed fisheries or fish farms that have a high environmental impact, in favour of buying fish from well-managed sources with a lower impact that are better for our seas and oceans.
By producing and communicating seafood ratings via its Good Fish Guide (first published in 2002), MCS aims to help UK consumers and businesses make the right choices.
MCS recognizes that fishing and fish farming are not only businesses but a way of life that makes an important contribution to both our economy and society. When fisheries and farms are well-managed, they are more stable and profitable, which in turn means we have healthy seas that can support local communities long into the future. MCS uses fish ratings to identify environmental issues within fisheries and fish farms that need help to improve. Importantly, ratings are also used to highlight best practices and to encourage demand and support for the best environmental performers.
MCS wants to see an increase in the number of ‘green’ rated (Best Choice) fish and a reduction in ‘red’ rated species (Fish to Avoid).
MCS ratings are underpinned by scientific information from respected and peer-reviewed sources. Public consultations and ratings updates are undertaken twice a year. Most wild capture ratings are reviewed annually. Farmed fish ratings are reviewed and updated on a 3-year basis, with an annual “health check” for key species. New assessments and re-evaluations can also be triggered if there is a significant change that is likely to affect the environmental performance of the fishery or fish farm.
MCS Good Fish Guide Ratings underpin the sustainable seafood criteria of various UK sustainability initiatives such as: Fish2Fork, the Sustainable Restaurant Association; the Soil Association’s ‘Food for Life Served Here Award’; Sustainable Fish Cities; and the UK Government Buying Standards. Various businesses have made commitments to responsible seafood sourcing based on GFG ratings, ranging from supermarkets, large contract caterers and the London Olympics Committee, to individual restaurants and fish n' chip shops.