White fish are called fish species with white, delicate meat and low fat content. These are one of the most popular fish among Polish consumers. The average Pole eats over 5.5 kg of white fish per year, which is about 40 percent. complete consumption of fish and seafood in Poland.
Over the years, white fish reigned on Polish tables as the basis of a Friday dinner. Today, they are more and more frequently chosen by all those who, for the sake of their health and diet, are looking for an easily digestible and full -fledged protein. As dietitians emphasize, eating white fish has many advantages for our health, including It helps to provide the body with the necessary vitamins and minerals.
White fish, such as cod, Mintaj, Miruna or Halibut, are an excellent source of easily digestible protein as well as key vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins and vitamins A and D, as well as iodine, selenium, calcium and potassium, which support immunity, bone and nervous system health. They are characterized by low fat and calories, which makes them an ideal choice for people who care about the figure, athletes and those with cardiovascular diseases. In addition, they contain less environmental impurities, such as heavy metals, thanks to which they are also safe for pregnant women and children
-explains Dr. Joanna Jurek, doctor of biomedical sciences, an expert in the field of immunia and nutri-psychiatry, author of the book “Fish in a healthy diet”.
A good choice for us and oceans
However, more and more Poles are asking themselves what impact our culinary choices on the environment. The results of the study conducted by the Independent Globescan agency indicate that as much as 89 percent. Polish consumers are concerned about the state of marine ecosystems. These fears are reflected in reality. According to data from the United Nations for food and agriculture, the problem of excessive fishing already affects over 37 percent. flocks of fish in the world. In that case, should we stop eating fish when we want to act for the good of the environment?
The impact of fishing on sea ecosystems depends on many factors, such as fish species, fishing, environmental conditions or methods used. To make a conscious, environmental decisions, we do not have to give up eating fish. However, we should check where they come from and how they were caught. An example would be cod – while the population of Atlantic cod remains stable, the situation of Baltic cod, especially its Eastern herd, has been very bad for years. Consumers often do not have such detailed knowledge, which is why the MSC certificate comes to the rescue, which allows them to easily recognize fish from balanced fishing
– says Marta Kalinowska, Country Manager for Poland and Central Europe in the NGO MSC.
The blue MSC certificate is a guarantee that fish and seafood come from well -managed, stable fisheries, and fishing less affect the sea ecosystem, do not disturb its balance and leave more fish in the ocean. It is also a way to support those fishermen who act in a responsible way, respecting the environment, and at the same time an encouragement for more to introduce more sustainable fishing practices.
White fish with a blue sign
The fact that about 74% of white fish caught comes from certified fishing, meets the rigorous requirements of the Sustainable Fisheries Standard MSC. This translates into a wide range of MSC certificate products. Over 150 such products are already available in Poland.
These are both fresh, frozen fish, as well as ready dishes, or even certified animal foods with the addition of white fish. Mint and cod dominate among these products, but with MSC certificate also: Czarniak (black cod), Halibut, Morszczuk, Miruna, Plamp or Łupacz are available.
The largest selection of white fish with MSC certificate can be found in the Frosta offer (100% of Frosta fish products have a MSC certificate) and Abramczyk. Lidl is the undisputed leader among the commercial networks, Kaufland and Aldi are in the following positions.
However, there is still a lot to be done. We estimate that MSC products currently constitute about 5-10% of all white fish products available on the Polish market. Given the fact of high availability of raw material from certified fishing, Polish processors and retail chains can easily change this situation. We appeal to companies for greater commitment to sustainable development and care for the resources of seas and oceans! And consumers are encouraged to support this postulate by responsible elections at store shelves
– comments Marta Kalinowska from MSC.
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