Talk to the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute about sustainable fishing and you could win a £200 Waitrose voucher NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

The team at the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute want to talk to MNers about sustainable and responsible fishing.

Here’s what the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute have to say, “We are very proud of the quality and sustainability of the fish from their oceans. Sustainability and responsible fishing has been enshrined into Alaska’s law since it became the 49th state of the US. All the fish that comes from Alaskan waters are wild and natural, giving them a huge amount of flavour and taste in addition to all the health benefits, plus you can have a clear conscious when you choose Alaskan seafood safe in the knowledge that the ocean’s stocks are preserved for generations to come.”

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important? Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you? Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you? Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?

Everyone who adds their thoughts to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 Waitrose voucher.

Please note your comments may be used by MN/ Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute in an email MN will be sending out as well as possibly elsewhere. Please only add a comment if you're happy for your quote to be used.

Thanks,
MNHQ

[Belo]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes, we owe it to future generations!

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
I try and choose sustainable fish, but I do keep an eye on the price.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
In terms of Salmon, yes. Alaskan Salmon is supposed to be a lot better for you than the over farmed salmon from the UK.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
Look for the MSC logo
www.msc.org/?gclid=CKKVjs7kmr8CFenItAodt0QAtw

[minimumeffort]

So, do you think the sustainability of fish is important?

Yes! I really like eating fish and don't want to endanger any species by overfishing for it from a very selfish (no pun intended) point of view.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?

I do try to buy fish from a sustainable source when I shop and think its better to buy quality over quantity if price is an issue.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter yo you?

Yes, I certainly avoid buying fish from countries with reputations for overfishing, poor working practice or conditions.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?

Always try to be aware of which types and origins of fish and are to be avoided when trying to biy sustainably.

[mimidl]

Sustainability of fish is incredibly important. With so many species of fish, there are more than enough to choose from without putting any specific species under threat.

I always choose sustainable fish - it should be as normal as buying free range eggs.

The country of origin doesn't matter as long as the fish is fresh and tasty! :)

My top tip would be to try bass! I cook some rice, griddle some sliced peppers drizzled in garlic oil, pop them on a plate and put the bass steak on top. Delicious!
Also, tell your children what they're eating! Tell them it's cod, bass, tilapia, whatever. Tell them where it comes from, show them a picture on Google! Make it interesting and they'll eat it.

[boptanana]

We eat very little fish but I like what we do buy to be high quality and sustainable. I'm not too worried about where it comes from but price and special offers do have an affect my choice. I don't have any tips I'm a bit clueless

[NotCitrus]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Very - standards of agriculture are way above where they were 20 years ago, but the fish industry is only now realising that sustainability is vital to save any jobs.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you? Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you? Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?

I look for the MCS or MSC logos, but sometimes get fresh fish from the market which isn't labelled so try to get fish from the " fish to eat" lists. Lidl fish fingers are pollock which I go for over the cod ones. Fish farming in the UK meets good standards but others may not. Equally just because Alaskan salmon is generally wild and 'natural' and usually from stocks that are sustainable doesn't mean that all of it is, especially if loads more people start buying Alaskan salmon, some stocks may become overfished, which is why I would like to see more use of assurance scheme labelling especially by manufacturers of fish products - my local fish stall owner can practically give family history of thefish so I'm more confident about her stuff.

[sarahbanshee]

Buying sustainable fish is important - we try to think about think about the sustainability of all our food choices and I know that overfishing is a real issue.

I look out for the MSC label on packaged fish which I am seeing slightly more often now - Sainsbury and Waitrose seem to be particularly good. I used to have a little credit card sized list in my purse of the fish that is particularly Bad for sustainability and more sustainable options - I've lost it now and I find it difficult to remember the "rules" although I know in general the more obscure the fish, the more likely it is to be ok eg cod and haddock no, pollock and coley yes!

I love fish and I know how healthy it is to have fish as a regular part of the diet so I do try to get this right. Fortunately the kids love mackerel, smoked or fresh, and I know that's very sustainable so we eat a lot of that.

[hottoddyplease]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes, absolutely.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
I consciously read labels and try to buy sustainable fish, particularly MSC certified fish.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
Not to the point of exclusion, but I try to buy British, Scandinavian or North American.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
Read labels and download lists! I often find that breaded/battered fish just labelled as "white fish" is a good, sustainable alternative to cod/haddock, as it's often pollock or similar white fish.

[milliemoon]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes. It's something people need to be thinking about before it's too late

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
I do choose sustainable fish but it's something I've only really become aware of or thought of in the last 5 years. Perhaps more could go in to educating people about it.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
It's not something I have really thought of before

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
I could do with learning a bit more about it before I could advise anyone

[nerysw]

I do think it's important to buy sustainable fish and would prefer to buy fish caught in British waters where possible. The price of fish is an issue though so the main fish products I buy are fish fingers for the kids and tins of tuna these days.

[snoggle]

do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes absolutely. Overfishing of a narrow range of species, and the lack of action by food retailers is a worry.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?

I try to but the issue isn't really price it's availability. I am happy to buy different alternatives but cannot get them in most supermarkets; for fish pie, coley is cheaper and tastier than cod but often can't get it. When I asked the supermarket fishmonger he said there was no demand for that sort of thing- well if you don't stock it or promote it, you can't create demand can you? Also for frozen fish portions, happy to buy alternatives but it's always cod or haddock.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?

Only in that I try to buy reasonably locally where I can. Local meaning North Sea, Norway, etc. unless it's a very specific thing I need I try not to buy things shipped from a long way away (although I will if buying frozen eg prawns)

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?

Just try stuff even if you've not had it before. Fish can generally all be cooked in the oven with some lemon juice, you can't go wrong. If all you can find is unsustainable, ask why

[VeryDullNameChange]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?

Yes, very much so. We eat quite a lot of fish, and I make a consistent effort to feed the DCs some oily fish every week. I try to avoid over-fished species, methods which cause major collateral damage, and I don't generally approve of the farming of carnivorous species such as salmon (though apparently farmed rainbow trout isn't too bad).

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?

I do, but it's really complex keeping track of all the issues. We have some good local fishmongers but they're not the kind of places to have a long conversation about sustainability, so I tend to rely on Waitrose and M&S who have pretty strong policies on the subject (though I'm unconvinced about some of their farmed salmon).
Price doesn't really come into it because we mostly eat tinned sardines, kippers and mackerel which are very cheap, and pollack fishfingers for the DCs. When it comes to salmon though, I won't compromise with the cheapest farmed stuff.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?

I'm not too hung up on localness, because there are some unsustainable practices in the UK, but I generally steer clear of South East Asia where there are a lot of dodgy practices (up to and including slavery apparently, though I don't eat prawns).

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?

The MSC pocket guide here is pretty good, but it does highlight just how complicated it is.

[Snapespeare]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
I am eventually pescatarian and eat fish every other day. Obviously, I don't want fish as a food source to run out, but am concerned about factor farming.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
Price is far more important at the moment.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
No.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
I think the discussion should be wider to include supporting small local fishmongers where they exist. I'm technically against big corporate supermarkets, but I shop at tesco (...) for ease. Their range of fish isn't very wide.

[portraitofabee]

Do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Hugely important. If the sea dies, we die.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
Sustainability is really important, but often sustainable is cheaper anyway - eg we don't eat cod at all, so choose pollack or (preferably) coley if we go to our local (excellent) chipshop, and both of these are cheaper than cod. I don't buy tuna at all, and I have cut down buying things like prawns because the industry seems so dodgy. I do still buy salmon, and would really welcome more information about whether wild or farmed is more sustainable.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
Inasmuch as different countries regulate their fishing industries more or less responsibly, yes.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
If you must buy tuna, always look for line caught, not dredged. Don't eat cod - coley is much cheaper and just as nice. Don't imagine that the sea is an endless resource, because it really, really isn't.

[ArcheryAnnie]

You might all enjoy this stunt pulled by a Scottish chippy to highlight the problems with unsustainable fishing:

www.scotsman.com/video/news/revive-the-clyde-s-fishy-suppers--3644068045001

[daisydaisy75]

i would be very happy if everyone would be vegetarian. meat is expensive and not as nutritious as vegetables. i am vegetarian and i saved lots of money, weight and feel so much better. vegetables have wonderful taste and you can create amazing dishes.

[Nigglenaggle]

So, do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Nothing is more important when purchasing fish for me.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
Definitely choose sustainability. Price is the last thing on my mind - if I can't afford sustainable fish then I can't afford fish. I find it quite difficult to know I am definitely making the best ethical decision though - I always wonder what the evidence is to back it up, and I don't always trust a brands word.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
Yes. Sorry Alaska but Scotland is my first port of call for salmon.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
River Cottage provide good advice in this area.

[perfectstorm]

Sustainability is important for very obvious reasons, especially if you love fish, but actually I also worry about the healthfulness of farmed fish. I buy Alaskan salmon only for the kids (DS loves fish, and dislikes red meat so we eat a lot of salmon) as it's wild.

I don't buy farmed prawns, for example, having read horror stories, and I won't buy Tilapia because it seems to be farmed in countries with unreliable safety records and record-keeping (plus the US, but they eat all they grow).

I think the MSC certification is rather weaker than it might be. I would welcome a sustainability plus wild catch label that could be truly relied upon. Alaskan fish is a good bet in that absence, IMO.

[Sephy]

I don't buy or know much about fish, but I am concerned about sustainability. Also, now DD is eating solids, I'd like to encourage her to eat fish and so I should start buying more.

Saturday's Paul Hollywood program had a feature about Scottish farmed smoked salmon and said it was tastier than wild - I don't know about the sustainability of it, but assume it is?

I would tend to buy British if possible, but I am happy to be persuaded if another country's fish is more sustainable and as healthy or more so.

[MontysMum22]

Yes I think its very important, we need to look after our environment both so we have fish stocks for ourselves for the future but also just for pure selfless motives in maintaining healthy balanced oceans. I always look out for the sustainable fishing info on products and I don't buy if they aren't and also watch for the dolphin friendly products. I would like to see it made compulsory that all products meet the appropriate standards right around the world but it would be a good start to make it compulsory by law to include whether products are from sustainable sources on the labels including at fishmongers, fish counters in supermarkets, fish and chip shops and all restaurants and eating establishments so that consumers can make informed decisions.
The country of origin only bothers me in so far as whether the fish have been sustainably fished.

[Wjjkl]

Sustainability is extremely important - I want my son to grow up being able to experience the variety we enjoy today and in order to do that, we must be responsible.

Wherever possible, I like to eat fish that are sourced locally as they are generally fresher - our local fishmonger in a van brings that mornings catch for sale - yum. I also try and avoid too many air miles on the fish as this is unenvironmental.

[Uzma01]

Do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes, if it's something that we are to enjoy for generations to come - then we ought to think twice about buying fish from less desirable sources.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
I try to, depends what's available at our usual supermarket - if I can't find anything suitable I'll end up buying fish elsewhere.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
Not really.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
Order a free a handy pocket guide online as to which fish to buy and which ones to avoid - keep it with you so it's a handy reminder when you're out shopping. I got one from the Marine Conservation Society.

[KateOxford]

I do think sustainability is very important and always choose fish which states this but I don't know enough about country of origin and would like to be educated in this area. The price doesn't have a bearing to me as I know fish is so important and we don't buy it very often. I would always rather choose better quality meat and fish and cut my budget in other areas where a lower price doesn't mean a compromise on quality.

[LaTrucha]

Do you think that sustainability of fish is important? Yes
Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you? It is a factor, but price is also a concern for us. We buy and eat fish more than meat and I don't feel I can really trust what is said in the supermarket etc, or perhaps I haven't informed myself well enough.
Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you? I prefer it not to come from half way round the world. I wish we could buy more seafood from British waters, but most of it gets shipped over to where DH is from (and his lettuces and tomatoes come here!)
Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly I'm afraid not.

[Mummytoboyz7]

Do you think that sustainability of fish is important?
Yes, we need to catch them properly in order to preserve the stocks. What I disagree with is dead fish being dumped as the boats have over caught on their quota's.

Do you consciously choose sustainable fish when you do your shop or are other factors such as price more important to you?
price is important but I will look for the best deal available for sustainable fish even if it's not the fish I would usually buy.

Does the country of origin of your fish matter to you?
A small amount yes - I try and buy british to reduce food miles but it's not always possible.

Do you have any top tips for Mumsnetters when buying seafood responsibly?
Buy from a fish counter and don't be afraid to ask questions or try a different variety of fish.

[SixImpossible]

I try to buy sustainable fish, but TBH it's often difficult to know what's right. Eg, is farmed better than wild? What about pollution, animal welfare, parasites? Is pole fishing more sustainable than nets? Besides, you usually only get that choice when buying fresh fish. What about fish products, like fish fingers, tinned fish or pickled herring?

There was an interesting article about fish farming in Nationsl Geographic recently. Showed just howuch I don't know!