Living in the South West of England gives us access to some of the finest freshly caught fish in the world. But making the decision of what fish to purchase can be one of the most complex and difficult issues facing your weekly shop and indeed the future of our local fish supply.

Dwindling fish stocks of the nations favourite species means we have to look to the under utilised species to grace our tables. As with all seafood, there are many aspects to consider before making your purchase.

Season: Different fish have different seasons, and it is important to avoid certain species whilst they are spawning, so the ocean has chance to replenish its stocks. Talk to your local fish monger about what is good right now.

Sustainable fish:  In our opinion the only sustainable fish is line caught by your local fisherman, unless its a very small fish (like sprats) in which case small targeted nets are OK. Local line caught fish means low food miles, no damage to the sea bed, no by-catch and minimal over fishing. Pass up on the most popular species like Cod, Haddock, Salmon, Tuna and Sea Bass as these are dangerously over fished.

What fish should I buy?:  Skip the supermarket and talk to your fish monger about local, line caught sustainable fish from small boat fisherman. Try Pollock, Sprats, Gurnard, Ling, Lemon Sole, Megrims, Coley and Sardines. Remember to mix it up, eating one type of fish all year round is not sustainable.