Fresh Fish

We are utterly brill-ed to welcome a range of fresh fish to the Soil and Sea online shop. Not only can you expect some cod-awful puns from us, but you can also shop assured that our fish are only ever sourced from sustainable stocks in waters as close to the Cornish coast as possible.

We chose to partner with Matthew Stevens and his dedicated team of fisheries who are committed to preserving a sustainable and traditional fish supply.

Committed to sustainability

Looking for information on sustainable fishing sources can be confusing. These are the steps our fisheries take to ensure our fisheries place sustainability at the top of the agenda…

The provenance and sustainability of every fish is scrutinised – if it’s not right, we won’t sell it. 

• Cornish vessels were the first to take part in the Fisheries Science Partnerships (FSP) programme in 2004 and as a result have improved scientific knowledge on stocks of local hake, sole and monkfish.

• In 2002, plans were introduced to help re-build hake and dover sole stocks – they have been hugely effective, increasing stocks by 50% and 30% respectively through fleet reductions and effort restrictions.

• The Trevose Box is a 3,600 square mile area off the North Cornish coast that protects spawning fish for three months by means of a total fishing ban. It was proposed by Cornish fishermen and is the largest closure of its type in European waters.

• Since 2009, fishermen in Brixham, Plymouth and Looe fit square mesh panels to their nets allowing small fish and non-target species to escape. The results have seen an average reduction in discards of 60%. As such, the project has been recognised as an example of best practice by the EU Fisheries Commissioner.

• Our supplier is in touch daily with fish auction markets across the South West and regularly talk to fishermen’s leaders who work tirelessly in London and Brussels to benefit the industry.

• By consulting directly with a number of NGOs, the fishing methods used are based upon information and research not yet published.