Good Cod; Rockfish axes Britain's favourite fish

Gutted!

A Devon seafood chain is taking Britain's favourite fish off its menu.

It means there's no plaice for cod at Rockfish this summer.

The company, owned by Dartmouth-based restaurateur Mitch Tonks, says global supply issues are to blame. So are the Russians.

Although cod is certified as a sustainable species by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), stocks are certified by last year's catch, which means unexpected changes - sanctions on Russia, for instance - can change the market quickly.

Mr Tonks is putting a marketing spin on the issue. His team says it is "a great opportunity for British people to embrace and celebrate other varieties of British fish" and that he's been banging on about it for 20 years.

He explains that, although his cod doesn't come from Russia, sanctions mean the species caught there will now be 35 per cent more expensive because of tariffs on the internationally sanctioned country. That will have a knock-on effect on other suppliers. 

Add in the cost of transport and energy, all fish shops are facing a growing problem,.
 
Rockfish says a significant proportion of the world's whitefish supply accounted for by Russian boats, and now rising import tariffs due to sanctions and the subsequent increase in demand and price of fish from other non-Russian fisheries (including Norway, where Rockfish sources its cod) has made getting hold of cod harder.

Rather than put up prices, they're removing the dilemma for diners. 

Cod's off.

At least from Monday 11 July.
 
Mr Tonks says: “This is a brilliant time for British fishing and now is our chance to celebrate lesser consumed but excellent British fish such as Hake (in abundance currently and MSC certified), plaice, gurnard and MSC Haddock."
 
Rockfish says the decision isn't permanent, "but a way to protect customers from having to overpay due to external forces...and has been made purely for external reasons, part of a global situation the industry has never faced before."

But for the time being, cod has had its chips.