Marrfish responds to the recent downgrading of cod to a 5 on the MCS Good Fish Guide

I want to talk about, cod. The industry’s favourite punching bag this week.

By Ben English, Director, Marrfish

If you’ve read the headlines, you’d think it’s time to strike cod off the menu and never speak of it again. Bit dramatic, no? But here’s what’s actually going on – without the pearl-clutching…

Yes, the southern cod stock (North Sea, Channel, Celtic Sea) is under pressure because warmer seas are pushing the fish further north, following colder water and food. It’s messy, it’s shifting, and it’s not helping anyone who’s trying to write a neat sustainability story.

So quotas have been slashed - 44% down - that’s a big hit. But, and this is the bit everyone conveniently skips, there’s still about 14,000 tonnes coming through. Cod hasn’t vanished.

This isn’t a tidy, single-species fishery. Boats hauling coley, or saithe, are still pulling up cod alongside it. You can’t just say “don’t catch cod”, that’s not how the sea, or fishing, works.

Now for the slightly uncomfortable truth…

Blanket messages telling people ‘don’t eat cod’ feels good. It sounds righteous, but it’s a bit lazy and it can actually undermine the very fishing communities we want to support. Sustainability isn’t just about optics on a menu; it’s about keeping fisheries viable. So no, binning cod entirely isn’t the solution some think it is. The grown-up approach would be to use cod, but don’t cling to it like a security blanket, don’t list it as the only fish on your menu. Speak to your supplier, ask where the cod’s from - properly - don’t just tick a box. Get comfortable pushing alternatives like haddock, hake and coley. They’re not understudies, they’re solid leads in their own right, and delicious, cost-effective alternatives!

And for the love of God, stop pretending seasonality doesn’t apply to fish!

Bottom line? Cod’s not cancelled. It’s just not your default anymore. And if that’s a problem, it might be time to take a harder look at your menu.