Blog
Why Sustainability Matters
There is no doubt that while sustainability in the fishing industry is a complex issue, it's one which we cannot, and must not, ignore. The British people and the fishing authorities are fully engaged in putting sustainability at the top of both the UK, and the wider European, political agenda, and here at Fish for Thought it's something with which we agree wholeheartedly.
How to store and prepare live Oysters
The Porthilly Pacific Oysters we source are grown in the tidal waters of the stunning Camel Estuary, near Rock, on the North Cornish Coast.
Store oysters in a fridge at no lower than 4°C, cupped side down on a tray or plate and covered with a clean damp cloth. Eat within two days of receipt.
Sustainable Mackerel
From a sustainability perspective, Cornwall's handline mackerel fishery is hard to beat. Stocks are healthy and, unlike many other areas, within Cornish waters industrial fishing is banned.
Sustainable Gurnard
They are fast growing and abundant fish, landed along the south west coast daily, using gill nets and demersal and beam trawls. When landed by demersal trawl and netted, they are 'Recommended' by The Cornwall Good Seafood Guide, and these are the fish that we source.
Sustainable Turbot
More information is required about this highly valued fish before we can be certain that current levels are sustainable, which is why it is not currently in the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide. We only recommend it as an occasional treat, and a great alternative that definitely is sustainable, is Brill.
Sustainable Brill
Brill is a great sustainable choice - 'Recommended' by the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide!
Sustainable Dover Sole
Thanks to this successful sole recovery plan, populations are healthy in our area and Dover sole is 'Recommended' on the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide.
Sustainable Megrim
The stocks of Megrim are healthy and it is thought that current fishing levels are sustainable. In Cornwall the minimum landing size is 25cm and the majority of Cornish trawlers use nets which allow juvenile fish to escape. They are 'Recommended' by Cornwall Good Seafood Guide.
Sustainable Lemon Sole
Lemon Sole is landed in significant volumes around the south west coast and is an important commercial species. It is fished for by beam trawl and demeral trawl as well as netted. We source net caught, day boat lemon sole as this is the most sustainable catch method.
Sustainable Whiting
Cornish Whiting has been a species recommended as sustainable for a long time. The waters around our coast benefit from healthy stocks that are responsibly fished.
Provenance and Sustainability of Hake
Since the introduction of a Hake Recovery Plan in the late 1990’s, fishing for Hake was strictly controlled and now, I am delighted to say, that stocks are far larger than they have been for many years. The recovery has been so marked, that in 2015 the Cornish Hake gill net fishery was certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council
Sustainable Cornish Crabs
Cornish Brown Crab stocks are healthy, and all of the crab that we source is pot-caught, which is one of the most sustainable methods of fishing. It is both low impact and very selective, and it allows for undersized and berried females to be returned to the water unharmed.