Most European seafood is imported and wild fish stocks aren't recovering fast enough. So how can you make sure the fish you buy is sustainable?Projects like MrGoodFish3.0 are ready to show us how. Coordinator Daniel Hayes explains.
Walk into any European supermarket or restaurant, and chances are the fish on display has traveled thousands of kilometres to get there. Europe's appetite for seafood far outstrips what local waters can provide, so much of the fish we buy is imported — often contributing to a sustainability crisis that's depleting ocean stocks and damaging marine ecosystems. Many consumers want to make responsible choices, but faced with confusing labels and limited information, they often don't know where to start.
That's where MrGoodFish3.0 comes in. This €2 million EU-funded initiative, led by the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, is on a mission to help Europeans navigate their seafood choices through a user-friendly app and widespread public engagement.
At the helm is oceanologist Daniel Hayes, CMMI's Marine Sciences Research Director, who believes the answer lies in making sustainable eating practical and accessible.
"The most important way is to try to find a product that's produced locally and also to find one that's of the right season," Hayes explains, "so that the fish population can develop naturally without extra pressure."
The upgraded MrGoodFish3.0 app shall deliver seasonal recommendations, nutritional information and recipes customised for different European markets, taking the guesswork out of responsible shopping.
Hayes is optimistic about the ripple effect of informed consumers: "Each of us can make a difference, even if it's small. But by doing that and creating a community around making responsible decisions, collectively you make an impact."
Running through 2027 and partnering with aquariums, chefs, and science centres across all 27 EU member states, MrGoodFish3.0 aims to prove that saving the ocean can start with your dinner plate.
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