This is a general guide to the species of fish Fred Hallam Ltd may stock and does not indicate the origin or method of production of fish available in the shop. Wherever possible, we try to stock fish from sustainable sources

Fish guide M-R

Mackerel

Notes: Mackerel is a fast swimming species belonging to a group of fish known as the scombrid family, which are related to the tuna.

Stocks: Sustainable

 

Marlin

Notes: Black marlin belong to a group of fish collectively known as billfish,  all having  a modified jaw shaped like a bill or spear. Black marlin are found in tropical and sub-tropical waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. They can reach a length of about 5m and weight of 750 kg. Spawning occurs at different times of year depending on the area. In Australian waters spawning occurs between October and March, whilst in the waters off China it occurs between May and June.

Blue marlin are migratory and found throughout tropical and temperate waters worldwide. Migrations They are usually solitary, large predators with an average weight of 100-175 kgs. Young marlin are one of, if not the, fastest growing of all bony fish.

Stocks: Atlantic blue marlin are mainly landed as by-catch in longline fisheries for tuna and swordfish. Atlantic blue marlin is  overfished. and is not predicted to recover if current levels of mortality continue.

 

Monkfish

Notes: Also called Cape monk or Devil Anglerfish, it is distributed throughout the South East Atlantic. Found on the deeper continental shelf and upper slope from depths of about 150-400 m. Attains a maximum length of 100 cm, more commonly 40-50 cm. It is reported to live for 11 years and matures at around 4 years at 40 cms.

Stocks: No information available at present.

 

Mullet  (Grey)

Notes:  Grey mullet belong to a large family - which comprises some 80 species - of marine fish known as Muglidae and is a common inhabitant of marine coastal waters in Europe. The thick-lipped grey mullet is one of three species which occur in northern European waters. It spawns in the Channel and in Irish waters in July-August.

Stocks: Grey mullet is a common inhabitant of most if not all northern European coastal waters. Little information available on abundance due to lack of scientific data.

Mullet (Red)

Notes: Red mullet is a member of the Mullidae family. Distributed throughout the world in tropical and warm temperate seas, it is one of two species found in the Mediterranean (the other being Mullus barbatus). It is also found as far north as Britain and Ireland in summer. It has distinctive barbels - sensory organs - with which it detects food in the sea bed. This is the reason for its alternative name - goat fish. Spawns in May-July in the Channel area. 

Stocks: Taken as by-catch and in mixed trawl fisheries.  Red mullet subject to high fishing pressure in Mediterranean fisheries.

Pilchard (Sardine)

Notes: Pilchard is a pelagic shoaling fish and a member of the herring family.It is widely distributed in European seas reaching the northward limit of its range in the vicinity of the British Isles.  Young pilchard are often referred to as sardine.

Stocks: Choose  pilchard - sold as Cornish sardines - caught in coastal waters off using traditional drift or ring nets.

Pollack

Notes: Distributed throughout the North East Atlantic, pollack is a warm, temperate species belonging to the cod family.

Stocks:  Pollack is taken as by-catch in directed trawl fisheries for cod and by hook and line. The best choice to make in terms of sustainability, is line-caught pollack.

Plaice

Notes: Plaice is a bottom-dwelling flatfish. North Sea plaice reach between 35 and 45 cm in their 6th year. It is a long-lived species with a maximum reported age of 50 years.

Stocks: Plaice is a long-lived species and subject to high fishing pressure. Stocks in the Celtic Sea, Western Channel, SW Ireland and West of Ireland are in decline and substantial reductions in fishing effort are required to achieve sustainable stock levels.  The Irish Sea stock is currently the only stock classified as healthy and harvested sustainably.