Sustainable Fish & Chips in Cornwall: Harbour Lights
*This post is a paid collaboration with the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
Unsustainable fishing practices are seriously damaging our oceans, but how can we move forward when ‘fish & chips’ is such a staple in our lives (especially in Cornwall)?
I don’t know about you, but I love enjoying fish & chips at the beach or on the coast in Cornwall on a summer evening. It’s a ritual that’s deeply ingrained into British seaside culture, and it can therefore be a tough habit to ask people to completely give up.
But there are simple ways we can make easy sustainable swaps with our food choices that don’t involve cutting out the things we enjoy completely…
What does unsustainable fishing look like & why is it bad?
The two main issues with unsustainable fishing practices are overfishing and destructive fishing.
Overfishing is where too many fish are caught (either legally or illegally – which is also a huge issue!) which means there aren’t enough adults to breed to restore the population levels. This has obvious long term consequences to the overall ocean ecosystem, but in the short term can also have devastating effects on fishermen and communities that lose their livelihoods when this happens.
Meanwhile destructive fishing is where boats use fishing practices that damage the environment. The ocean is something we rely on and we want to preserve it, not destroy it!
What does fishing sustainably look like?
But it’s not all bad news; non-profit, science-based organisation – the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) – is dedicated to protecting our oceans and has created a certification for upholding sustainable standards and practices throughout the fishing industry.
The MSC fisheries standard will ensure that fisheries are retaining sustainable fish stocks, minimising environmental impact of the ecosystem, and managing their fisheries effectively.
What can we do to support sustainable fishing?
Firstly, look out for the blue MSC ecolabel on seafood in retail shops and restaurants. This is the world’s most recognised label for sustainable seafood developed by the MSC, so you know you can trust that your fish comes from a fishery with strict standards.
Secondly, you can pick up your sustainable fish and chip tips from the MSC in their latest blog post here!
Sustainable fish & chips in Cornwall
After having a browse through the MSC certified fish & chip shop list, we headed over to Falmouth to grab our cod fix from Harbour Lights on Arwenack Street.
Harbour Lights has been one of Cornwall’s top-rated fish and chips restaurants for years (I even featured it in my own Best Fish & Chips in Cornwall blog post a couple of years ago), and has won lots of awards as well. It’s handy location in the middle of Falmouth means it’s a great spot for grabbing and eating on the harbour or on one of Falmouth’s beautiful beaches too.
We really love their click & collect feature on their website, which means it really easy to place and pay for your order, and pick up with no fuss from their shop.
My favourite thing to do is grab a box of their delicious MSC battered cod, some golden chips and curry sauce (hands up if you’re a curry sauce fan!), and head up to Pendennis Point to sit and eat with a view over the ocean.
…Made even better knowing that the fish was caught sustainably without damaging our stunning environment!
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I had no idea the MSC certification focused so closely on both fish populations and habitat protection—really makes you think about where your fish and chips actually come from. If more coastal spots joined the effort, it could be a game changer for places like Cornwall. Found a cool way to pass time while learning about marine conservation at this site.
Thanks for sharing this. I found the discussion around “Sustainable Fish & Chips in Cornwall: Harbour Lights | The Cornish Life | Cornwall Lifestyle Blog” useful, especially the practical context.