According to the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) megrim is one of the most sustainable and tasty fish currently being caught by the UK fleet – but the species is being shunned by Brits, as no one has heard of it.
NFFO says that megrim is the latest fish that has seen a dramatic improvement in sustainability levels. The UK fleet landed 3,300 tonnes of it last year alone, but the majority was exported to Spain and France where the fish is in high demand.
Caught all across the UK by British fishermen, megrim sole is a flatfish similar in flavour to the Dover sole, yet at around a third or less of the price. From the same family as turbot and brill, it has softer flesh and thin skin that can be easily crisped during cooking.
According to the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES), megrim is currently being underutilised and fishermen could land two and half times as much without jeopardising future sustainability.
The NFFO recently partnered with Masterchef presenter Gregg Wallace to host a ‘Deck to Dinner’ event which was dedicated to celebrating the diversity of Britain’s seafood and was designed to show consumers how delicious many sustainable but underused fish species can be. Megrim was one of the species showcased.
Barrie Deas, chief executive of the NFFO, said, “The UK fleet catches a variety of unique, delicious and highly sustainable fish that are regularly overlooked. Deck to Dinner is all about championing these and the fact some of these fish are at the more affordable end of the market means people’s taste buds, wallets and conscience will benefit from eating them.”
