Our first edition of the MSC UK and Ireland Market Report 2020 showcases the leadership of the UK and Irish markets in sustainable seafood. It highlights the growing number of certified products and menu offerings available to consumers and profiles emerging sectors in the sustainable seafood space.
Consumer spend on MSC fish and seafood in UK/Ireland tops £1.3 billion for the first time
The last decade has seen incredible growth in MSC certified seafood consumption in the UK and Ireland, increasing more than tenfold between 2009 and 2019. British and Irish consumers have an ever-expanding array of sustainably caught fish and seafood products to choose from, across many sub-categories and sectors.
In the past five years, the number of species sold bearing the blue ecolabel in the UK and Ireland increased from 33 to 47, while the number of certified consumer-facing products doubled from 807 to 1629. This has been made possible by an increasing number of certified source fisheries, both in the UK and Ireland and across the globe, and strong commitment by businesses in both countries.
While this has created new opportunities, challenges remain. The Covid-19 pandemic has, and continues, to affect communities and businesses across the globe and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact well into the future in the UK and Ireland. However, the response of the seafood industry to our new and changing reality has been truly impressive, a testament to the resiliency of sustainable fisheries and supply chains.