None of us can imagine the holidays without delicious herring or traditional Greek fish. Meanwhile, the problem of overfishing and inadequate fisheries management may eliminate many fish species from our menu forever. Whether wild fish will remain on the Christmas table in the future depends on the responsible decisions of producers, retail chains, governments, but also on all of us. The non-governmental organization MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) is organizing a Christmas educational campaign reminding people to choose only fish from sustainable catches during the holidays, just like during everyday shopping.
Oceans under increasing pressure
Now more than ever, the future of the oceans depends on our decisions. The UN report “The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024” indicates that every year more and more of the world’s wild fish stocks are overfished. Overfishing already affects over 37% of fish stocks, and this percentage is over three and a half times higher than in the mid-1970s. Meanwhile, the demand for fish is still growing. Over the past few decades, the growth rate of global fish consumption has doubled the growth rate of the world’s population. On average, an inhabitant of Earth eats 20.6 kg of fish and seafood. This is more than twice as much as in the mid-1960s.
The increasing demand for fish products has a lasting impact on the condition of marine ecosystems
– says Marta Kalinowska, Country Manager for Poland and Central Europe at MSC.
For centuries, people thought that the seas and oceans were an inexhaustible source of fish and seafood, but excessive fishing can lead to an imbalance in marine ecosystems and the extinction of species. This is not only an ecological problem, but also an economic and social one. Its consequences are felt by millions of people for whom fish are a basic element of food and whose existence depends on the development of the fishing economy.
It is therefore not surprising that as many as 89% of Polish consumers are concerned about the state of marine ecosystems, and 85% believe that we must protect fish and seafood to ensure that there will be no shortage of them for our children, grandchildren and future generations2.
Christmas fish from a good source
However, there is also good news. To ensure that our daily choices do not burden the environment, we do not have to give up eating fish. However, when buying them, let’s take into account not only taste or habit, but also how they were obtained.
You don’t have to be an expert to know which fish to choose. The blue MSC certificate comes to the rescue, which can be found on wild fish and seafood from sustainable catches that meet the most stringent global environmental requirements. This is a guarantee that fish and seafood come from well-managed, stable fisheries, and catches have less impact on the marine ecosystem, do not disturb its balance, leave more fish in the ocean, and do not threaten other marine animals such as turtles, dolphins, porpoises or seabirds. It is also a way to support those fishermen who operate responsibly, respecting the environment, and encouraging others to introduce more sustainable fishing practices.
If we want to enjoy delicious fish dishes on the Christmas Eve table in the future, let’s buy fish marked with the blue MSC mark.
Christmas herring under the microscope
Currently, herring – one of Poles’ favorite fish, which is an indispensable element of the Christmas Eve supper in many homes – requires careful verification whether the fish comes from sustainable catches.
Unfortunately, due to environmental changes and the lack of appropriate political actions, the MSC certificate, which is important for Polish processors and consumers of herring fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic and the Baltic Sea,3 has been lost, and further fishing above the levels recommended by scientists may lead to the complete collapse of these stocks. Does this mean that we should completely give up Christmas herring?
In recent years, we have seen major challenges when it comes to the availability of sustainable herring. However, more and more often in Polish stores we can find MSC-certified herring products from, among others, from fishing off the coast of Iceland or in the North Sea, where herring stocks are in good condition and fishing is conducted in accordance with the requirements of the MSC Standard
– comments Marta Kalinowska from MSC.
We appeal to consumers to pay special attention to whether the herring they buy is MSC certified. In this way, we support the most responsible companies that have done work that is important for the environment and have decided to change their raw material sources so that the herring they offer is still a responsible and sustainable choice.
Fish with the MSC mark in Polish stores
However, if we are not sure where the herring we buy comes from, be ready to make changes to the menu and choose a different fish. Fortunately, there is plenty to choose from.
Polish stores offer nearly 400 different fish and seafood products marked with the blue MSC certificate. Among them we will find, among others: wild salmon, cod, myruna, pollock, halibut, hake, saithe (black cod), tuna, and even mussels, shrimps and lobsters. These include chilled and frozen products, cans, baby food, dishes with fish, as well as certified dietary supplements and animal food, available from the most popular retail chains (including Lidl, Kaufland, ALDI) and manufacturers ( including FRoSTA, Abramczyk, Graal). Thanks to this, we can easily make good choices for the environment when shopping every day.
More information on how to responsibly choose fish for the holidays can be found at: www.msc.org/pl/swieta-z-MSC
Christmas education about fish and oceans
The Christmas campaign, organized by the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council), is educational for the tenth year in a row. Its aim is to familiarize Poles with the MSC certificate and encourage them to choose fish from sustainable catches for the holidays. MSC’s activities as part of the Christmas campaign are supported by Graal – the producer of MSC tuna in its own sauce, which was chosen by consumers as the Best MSC Product on the Polish market in 2024.
The website www.msc.org/pl/przepisy has published special recipes for Christmas canned tuna dishes, prepared by: actress Katarzyna Żak, chef Martin Gimenez Castro, clinical dietitian Milena Nosek and Joanna Matyjek, culinary photographer and author of the Odczaruj blog Gary.
Knowing how important education is from an early age, MSC has also prepared special games and activities for the youngest, available at: www.msc.org/pl/edukacja, and whole families can enjoy competitions with prizes on MSC Polska’s Facebook page in December.
Let this Christmas be an opportunity to have fun together as a family and educate about what each of us can do to protect our Blue Planet!
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