Quayside of Whitby, champion chippie of the Northeast, has become the first fish and chip shop in Yorkshire to get the prestigious Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) stamp of approval that the fish it serves is sustainably sourced. Only 12 fish and chip shops in the UK have MSC certification along with a handful of restaurants including Raymond Blanc’s Michelin-starred Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. 

Stuart Fusco, chef and director at Quayside, said: “We can tell our customers exactly where their juicy crispy golden haddock and hake came from, from the name of the boat down to the area where it was caught and on what date. Serving sustainably sourced fish is important as fish supplies have to be responsibly managed if we are to enjoy fish and chips for years to come.”

To be certified, Quayside had to be independently audited and demonstrate commitment to the MSC’s Chain of Custody programme that can trace each fish from sea to plate via fishermen, wholesalers, retailers and restaurant owners - all of whom must be MSC certified. From next week, customers to Quayside will see the MSC’s distinctive blue ecolabel against haddock and hake on its new spring menus. 

Quayside has been dedicated to using only responsibly sourced ingredients since it opened in 1999. It serves only sustainably sourced cod from fisherman certified by the Iceland Responsible Fisheries scheme, UK potatoes and locally sourced pies, vegetables and desserts.

Stuart said: “We have been serving only sustainably sourced fish for many years but it is good to have MSC certification to reassure our customers that they are making the right choice for the environment when they come to Quayside. That’ll make our fish and chips taste even better.”

MSC is a global non-profit organisation that’s dedicated to recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing and allowing customers to choose fish that’s sustainably sourced to protect the health of our oceans. It is recognized as having one of the best seafood traceability certification programs in the world. As a result, the MSC ecolabel is one of the most trusted indicators of seafood sustainability and can be found on over 11,000 products around the world.

Since opening in 1999, Quayside has been a consistent award-winner both nationally and locally for its products, its people and its community spirit. This year it was named Best Fish and Chip Shop in the Northeast for the second consecutive year at the National Fish and Chip Shop Awards and its 80-seat restaurant was judged Best Fish and Chip Restaurant North of London.