Celebrating World Ocean Day with Sustainable Seafood

A Belfast seafood and fish and chip restaurant celebrates on World Ocean Day as new survey reveals many Brits do not understand key facts about the ocean.

A seafood and fish and chip restaurant in Belfast is celebrating World Ocean Day (June 8) this week and serving certified sustainable fish to its customers.

Fish City is proud to be supporting sustainably managed fisheries and protecting our oceans for future generations.

John Lavery, owner of Fish City, says, “We are proud to be the first business on the island of Ireland to be certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, supporting their vital work in creating a fully traceable and sustainable supply chain that rewards well-managed, sustainable fisheries, all the way down to retailers, restaurants and fish and chip shops. It’s about letting people know they can trust that their choice of seafood is from healthy, thriving stocks and sustainable in the long-term.”

Fish City is one of sixteen nationwide, currently certified as serving sustainable fish to the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) Chain of Custody Standard.

To mark World Ocean Day 2026, the MSC, the international ecolabel and charity focused on stopping overfishing, has published new research which has revealed that many Brits do not understand key facts about the ocean. Almost a fifth (16%) of Brits do not know our planet is covered by more ocean than land, and one in four (25%) are unaware that in some places the ocean is deeper than Mount Everest is high, the survey found. While 69% correctly identified that overfishing is more widespread today than it was 50 years ago, 31% wrongly thought fish populations can never recover from overfishing, and a further 23% were unsure.  

The survey also found strong public concern about ocean health, with 90% of Brits saying they are worried about the state of the ocean. Climate change, pollution and declining fish populations were among the main concerns.  

The data from independent research company GlobeScan highlights both the scale of public misunderstanding about the ocean and the need for greater awareness that, with the right management, fish stocks can rebound. The MSC’s new report, Fishing for the Future, also released today shows examples of fish stocks that recovered when effective, science-based measures were put in place to manage the fisheries targeting them.    

Rowan Williams, MSC UK & Ireland Commercial Officer, said: “The evidence is clear – recovery is possible when fisheries are managed sustainably. It’s great to see [insert shop name] playing their part in rewarding sustainable fisheries, and safeguarding fish and chips for future generations.”

“On World Ocean Day, we are sending the message that, with science-based management, strong collaboration, and long-term commitment, it is possible to manage our marine resources sustainably.”

Notes:

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised standards for sustainable fishing and the seafood supply chain. Fisheries representing 20% of the world’s wild marine catch are engaged in its certification program. For more information visit msc.org or visit our social media pages.