North Sea cod could soon be coming off the menu for environmentally conscious diners as a decision is expected by the end of this month on whether fish populations are too low to support sustainable fishing.
Cod from the North Sea is designated as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), which examines fish stocks and certifies those that can support more fishing without significant harm. But that designation is now in serious doubt, as the world’s leading body on the health of fish stocks has warned that the North Sea populations of cod have fallen to critical levels.
Big retailers and many consumers rely on the MSC to certify that the fish they sell or eat is from sustainable stocks. Some campaigners said the sharp decline in the population of cod showed up “worrisome” issues with the MSC certification system.
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