The British Trout Association has announced that land based farmed British trout has received a ‘green’ endorsement from environmental organisation, the Marine Conservation Society (MCS)
The MCS published an updated version of its ‘Pocket Good Fish Guide’ this month which uses a traffic light system for rating both capture and farmed fish, and shellfish products. The scale goes from green (indicating good, environmentally sustainable purchases – Fish to Eat) down to red (indicating Fish to Avoid). The guide is available to download from www.goodfishguide.co.uk/pocket-goodfishguide, with more detailed information on this and other fish species to be found at www.fishonline.org.
Land based-farmed trout in the UK – alongside that of other Northern European producers - is classified as a green good choice – giving a clear environmental endorsement of UK production acknowledging the higher standards to which UK operators comply and the robust regulatory framework regulating the industry.
The introduction of the Quality Trout UK Ltd standard in 2000 was an important milestone for the industry, which addressed all aspects of trout production, and was primarily designed to meet the requirements of multiple retailers with regard to product traceability, product quality and food safety.
The UK is now the only European Union producer that operates an EN45011 standard specifically for trout production.
Trout’s green rating comes after fruitful joint-working by British Trout Association CEO, David Bassett and representatives from NGOs involved.
