Good Fish can be described as fish that is caught or farmed with consideration for the impact on nature and the environment. This means natural populations are not depleted and marine ecosystems are not damaged. But how do you recognize and choose sustainable fish?
Unfortunately, you cannot tell just by looking at a fish whether it is sustainable or not. Sustainability of fish depends largely on the fishing or farming methods and the area of origin for almost all species. To make a sustainable choice, there are two main ways:
- The product carries an MSC or ASC certification, indicating the fish was sustainably caught or responsibly farmed.
- For products without certification, tools like the VISwijzer in the Netherlands can help determine whether a product is sustainable.
When fish products carry a certification, it allows for an immediate sustainable choice. The most common and recognized certifications are MSC (for wild-caught fish) and ASC (for farmed fish). If a fish lacks certification, it does not necessarily mean it is not sustainable. There are sustainable and less sustainable options available for almost every fish species on the market.
The degree of sustainability for wild-caught fish depends on the fish stock, fishing method, and fisheries management. For farmed fish, sustainability hinges on factors such as the ingredients in fish feed, farming methods, and policies governing fish farming in the country of origin. When accurate information is available, assessment systems like the VISwijzer can be an effective tool to determine the sustainability of the fish you are purchasing.
The VISwijzer
The VISwijzer is our online tool providing sustainability advice for fisheries and aquaculture based on evaluations following a standard methodology. These evaluations result in scores indicating the level of sustainability. Scores are presented using a traffic light system: red indicates significant sustainability issues with the catch or farming method, orange signifies a sustainability concern, and green denotes sustainable, good fish.
If a fish scores green or orange, it’s a good choice! If it scores red, it’s best to avoid it and opt for a more sustainable alternative. Click here to learn more about how the VISwijzer works.
Information about fish is important
The assessments on the VISwijzer are specifically tailored for fish species from certain areas and with particular fishing or farming methods. Therefore, each score on the VISwijzer represents an individual sustainability evaluation.
Fish species are often categorized into stocks managed specifically by geographic area. This simplifies the process for managers to implement targeted measures that suit the specific conditions of each stock. Additionally, the level of impact on the ecosystem varies depending on the fishing and farming methods used. As a result, the same fish species may receive a red, orange, or green rating on the VISwijzer.
Want to learn more? Check out our pages on fishing and farming methods or which fish you should avoid!