Sustainability Policy

This policy outlines our commitment to sourcing seafood from fisheries and farms that have low impact on our marine ecosystem. We hope this approach will promote the most responsibly managed fisheries and farms and help contribute to healthy seas for future generations.

Pysk considers the sustainability ratings produced by the Marine Conservation Society and its partner the Cornwall Good Seafood Guide to be rigorous and comprehensive assessments of fishery sustainability. The criteria for assessment include stock status (stock size and fishing pressure), fishery management, capture method and ecological effects.

1. preferentially source our seafood from local fisheries & farms that are rated 1–4 by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) at goodfishguide.org. Rating 1–2 is “Best Choice”; 3–4 is “OK – Needs Improvement”.
2. in the absence of a specific MCS rating for a species/catch/area we may source legally caught seafood based on similar ratings or advice from other assessment tools and resources that indicate a low environmental risk.
3. source aquaculture products from farms that have high welfare standards such as those certified by Freedom Food to meet Farm Animal Welfare Councils’ Five Freedoms.
4. avoid sourcing seafood that is spawning or, wherever possible, below its length at maturity. This is often greater than the legal minimum landing size.
5. undertake periodic traceability audits to ensure that what we specify is supplied to us and in turn provided to our customers.
6. evaluate and review this policy on an annual basis to ensure it is being implemented with effect and to ensure it remains current and continues to reflect responsible seafood sourcing practices.

For wild capture, the MCS recognises the Marine Stewardship Council, Alaskan RFM standard and Icelandic RFM standard. For farmed seafood the MCS recognises: Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC); organic certifications such as Soil Association and Naturland; the Global Aquaculture Alliance Best Aquaculture Practice (GAA BAP) 2, 3 & 4 star; and GlobalGAP.

If you have any questions about how we source a particular product, please ask in the shop or email us — every product page on this site also lists the catch area, production method, and where known, the boat or farm.