NORTH SEA COD is back on the Scottish menu after it was removed from the list of ‘fish to avoid eating’ by the Marine Conservation Society this week.
Banffshire & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson was one of the first to welcome removal of long-standing advice that cod should not be eaten as stocks had fallen to a level only just above what was considered sustainable.
However, following the recovery of numbers the charity has now removed cod from the danger list – although they warn that it should still only be eaten once a week as an ‘occasional treat’!
News that will be welcome to those employed in the fishing industry in Moray and along the north east coastline was noted by Mr Stevenson when he said: “The return of cod to our dinner tables is excellent news and this move by the Marine Conservation Society is a great vote of confidence in North Sea cod.
“It reflects all the hard work from our fishermen to conserve the stock over many years, and demonstrates that Scottish Government initiatives are having a welcome impact.
“This has been a long journey since the peak numbers of cod in the 1970s and early 1980s and subsequent over fishing, but we are now benefitting from measures taken to reverse this with growing stock.”
It is also understood that the North Sea cod stock is going through an assessment to be certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Around 50,000 tonnes of cod is thought to be eaten in UK fish and chip shops each year.