Fish and shellfish you shouldn’t eat

The new WWF 2021 Fish Guide brings together how fishers feel, how effectively controls are actually managed and how fishing affects other aspects such as its environmental impact on other species and habitats.

In general, most of what is caught on the west coast is under the green light. Many fish are MSC certified, which means they get the green light.

If you take West Coast shrimp hunting as an example, they are at a red light if not MSC certified. Lobster gets the green light if caught in a cage in Kattegat, Skagerrak, or in the North Sea, says Inger Melander, a WWF fishing expert.

Fishing gear is something that can be crucial in some cases whether your fish is getting a red or green light.

Mackerels also get the green light if caught by trawl, hand rope, or fishing nets. Inger Melander says a certain part of hunting is Swedish.

Three things to look out for

The hunting expert recommends looking for the species that are primarily found in the green light at the grocery store.

If you have a smartphone, you can get help from the Fish Guide app – then there are three things in particular that you can check: the fish’s name, the way it caught and where it was caught.

– If you shop without your phone, you can check three certifications we recommend: MSC for wild caught fish, requirements that apply to both wild and farmed fish, as well as the ASC that applies to farmed fish, says Inger Melander.

Salmon and cod are the two most common fish that Swedes buy at the grocery store. There are a few different things to keep in mind.

ASC-certified salmon are shown in green light, while farmed Norwegian salmon is shown in yellow. Then we have the MSC certified cod gets the green light while the cod caught in the Baltic Sea gets the red light. But there are some exceptions. If the cod is caught in the Barents and Norwegian Seas, for example, it is at light yellow, she says.

If you are going to eat in a restaurant

When you go out to eat at a restaurant or buy something from a fish truck, it’s not always easy to check the environmental labels themselves.

Then, first of all, you can ask about the fish’s scientific name and then some basic things.

You can ask what type it was, where it was caught, what fishing gear it used, whether it was planted, and if so, where. Then you get all the information you need to know which light you intend to order your fish in in the fish guide, says Inger Melander.