As we head towards the annual EU quota round debate, headlines question the sustainability of cod in the North Sea but all too frequently overlook the very healthy supplies from the North Atlantic and Barents Sea

This is the centre page article which appeared in the Sunday Times on 27 November, 2011.

The article features Peter Fraser from The Harbour Lights in Falmouth. Peter is a finalist in the Good Catch category at the 2012 Fish & Chip Shop of the Year Awards and after talking about fish stock sustainability at his local school, Peter ran a cod-free week. The Sunday Times article quotes Peter saying “Cod is still our best seller but we have found sustainable sources in the cold Barents and Norwegian Seas” so is very clear in separating the problems facing the North Sea from the sustainable Fasfa supplies from the North Atlantic.

Peter is a well-known campaigner for sustainable fisheries and says:

“Cod & Haddock are by far our best sellers and I have always bought supplies from FASFA sources. Local Cod and Haddock is available but I am a firm believer that they are cold water fish and their quality improves the further north they are caught. For the last three years we have taken advice from the Marine Conservation Society on the sustainability of all fish we serve. Following their guidance we moved from Icelandic to Norwegian/Barents Cod about a year ago. I was thrilled when I discovered we could now purchase Marine Stewardship Council [MSC] Cod and Haddock via our UK wholesalers. I really want to take full advantage of the Harbour Lights being the only MSC certified restaurant in Cornwall & Devon.”

Peter buys his FAS fillets from Fastnet and Smales, both Fasfa members.