Cornish hake fishermen have been celebrating as sales of the species are enjoying a resurgence.
The Cornish Fish Producers Organisation (CFPO) has also been recertified as “sustainable and well-managed”, according to the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Hake has become increasingly popular in UK restaurants, and restaurateur and MSC ambassador Mitch Tonks, who champions Cornish hake in his Rockfish restaurant chain, said the fish is “meaty, silky, juicy, versatile and easy to cook.”
Craig Maw of Kingfisher Fish & Chips in Plympton, Devon, said: “In previous summers, we have offered MSC-certified Cornish hake as a special, and it has been really popular. Customers love that it’s not only sustainable but caught so locally. It’s similar to cod but slightly milder and sweeter and personally, I think it makes some of the best fish and chips there is.”
Cornish hake featured in this year’s MSC consumer awareness campaign, What it Takes, which highlighted the fishermen bringing sustainable seafood from ocean to plate. Cornish fishermen land just under 2,000 tonnes of European hake every year into Newlyn.
Paul Trebilcock, chief executive of the Cornish Fish Producers’ Organisation, said: “Achieving MSC recertification is a testament to the hard work, dedication and selectivity expertise of the fishing industry here in Cornwall. Our fishermen are committed to ensuring they meet the high standards for sustainable seafood that consumers have come to expect from our diverse fleet.”