Environmental pressure group the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has removed monkfish from northern stocks off its “fish to avoid” list after a significant rise in the species number during the past five years. 

The move comes just months after supermarket chain Asda removed the fish from its shelves due to depleting stocks and criticised some of the UK’s best known seafood chefs for offering it on their menus.

Chefs named by Asda as environmental “sinners” included Gordon Ramsay as well as Rick Stein, Jean Christophe Novelli and Jamie Oliver.

However, a spokeswoman for the MCS has now said that there are no biological indicators suggesting that monkfish is being exploited at unsustainable levels.

“There has been widespread recruitment into the fishery since 2001 and all evidence indicates that the stock is continuing to increase in abundance at the present time,” she said. 

David Cavalier, food innovation director at Charlton House, said he welcomed the move. 

“It goes to show that if people act responsibly and work together it is possible to allow nature to replenish itself and restore the balance,” he said.

Marine Conservation Society website >>

Macdonald Hotels & Resorts introduces fish-friendly campaign >>

Restaurateurs urged not to use bluefin tuna >>

By Kerstin Kühn

E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.