Stonehaven's The Bay in Running for Sustainability Award

Popular fish and chip shop The Bay in Stonehaven has reached the finals of this year’s Good Catch Award for Sustainability at the National Fish and Chip Awards 2012, run by Seafish, the authority on seafood.

It’s a double celebration for The Bay after it was named the best Independent Takeaway Fish and Chip Shop of the Year in Scotland.

Where fish and chip shops source their fish from has never been more important. Each year, the Good Catch Award honours those in the fish and chip shop industry who have made the greatest changes and contribution to sustainable fish sourcing.

Now through to the final of just three fish and chip shops, The Bay was praised by the judges for its strong product knowledge and really clear communications in the shop.

Judges also noted The Bay’s MSC-certified Scottish haddock options and its work spreading the word about sustainable sourcing to customers.

The overall winner of the award will be announced at the grand final in London on January 17, 2012.

Calum Richardson of The Bay, said: “I’m delighted to have reached the final as all the staff have worked incredibly hard to convey our sustainable message and it’s been a priority of The Bay for a long time.

“I take the staff to the fish market in Peterhead and to meet the suppliers which has really helped to broaden their knowledge and give them an overview of what it takes to get a high quality product from sea to plate.

“All our fish and chip boxes are printed with an MSC eco-label and we also had 6000 pamphlets to explain the sustainable message to our customers.”

Emily Howgate of SeaWeb’s Seafood Choices, one of the award sponsors, said: “I’d like to congratulate The Bay on reaching the Good Catch Award finals.

“Their dedication to sustainability and the hard work they have put in – both in their seafood and in their entry to this year’s competition – shows how important sustainable sourcing is to them. 

“Sustainable sourcing has never been more important and their passion for sustainable seafood and their creativity in taking that to their customers puts them at the cutting edge of the industry.”

With over 250 million fish and chip meals sold each year from over 10,500 shops across the UK, fish and chips remains the nation’s favourite takeaway.

Devotees can tuck into their fish and chips knowing that they contain 36% less calories than a chicken korma and pilau rice, and 42% less fat than a doner kebab with pitta and salad.

Recent studies also showed that fish and chips had the lowest salt content of all the takeaways tested.

More information:

The Bay.

Looking to source sustainable fish and seafood? Try Scotland Food & Drink's Buyers' Guide.

National Fish & Chip Awards 2012.