Mr. Goodfish’s Fishing Tips
What are Mr.Goodfish’s selection criteria?
The Mr.Goodfish selection criteria were established in France in partnership with IFREMER. They are strictly scientific and consist of four criteria:
The state of the resource: Mr.Goodfish species must come from stocks that are in good condition, allowing for their sustainable exploitation, and that are deemed as such by experts. In other words, these stocks must be monitored by one or more scientific institutions or, at a minimum, be subject to an assessment by qualified scientific experts.
Certain species not subject to regulations and not facing heavy fishing pressure may be recommended by Mr.Goodfish. This helps raise public awareness of species that are often little known. These species are identified with the following statement: “Species not subject to regulations, not facing fishing pressure.”
Given that a single species may come from several different stocks (origins), the fishing zone as indicated on the catch report attached to the product is the determining factor. This detail is essential for the potential “Mr.Goodfish” designation. The port of landing remains a useful but not decisive indicator.
Size: The recommended minimum size is the size at first sexual maturity. If there is a difference in the size at first sexual maturity between males and females, the larger of the two is used. It should be noted that this recommended size often differs from the minimum landing size specified in regulatory texts.
The Season: Mr. Goodfish’s recommended species lists are updated each season. The recommended seasons are those that fall outside the species’ breeding peak(s). Dates may be adjusted from year to year if scientific data indicate a shift in the breeding peak.
Status of the species: The reference documents are the latest ICES stock assessments, which are issued annually.
In conclusion: A species may be included on Mr.Goodfish’s proposed seasonal list only if all four of the above criteria are met.
Method for Compiling Lists
IFREMER provides the Mr.Goodfish program coordinator with a detailed list of species (stock status, fishing pressure, fishing area, etc.).
The three regional committees responsible for compiling the Mr.Goodfish lists meet each season, six weeks before the lists are updated, and are led by the regional coordinators: Nausicaá, CADK, and the Aquarium Planète Océan.
These committees are composed of:
- Scientists: Proposals may include scientific opinions obtained from institutions other than IFREMER, which provide complementary expertise for assessing the status of certain resources (e.g., CNC for shellfish, the University of Caen for cephalopods),
- Representatives of fishermen's organizations (CRPMEM, producer organizations, etc.)
- Transformers
- Fishmongers (Fishmongers' Union)
- Restaurateurs
- Retail fishmongers
- Retail (Quality Management at METRO and Auchan)
The committees make final amendments and approve the list; species may be removed from the list at the committees’ discretion, but under no circumstances may additional species be added. If further scientific information is required, the program coordinator contacts the IFREMER fisheries assessment coordinator directly.
The list is published immediately and sent to members, and the production of promotional materials for the program (posters and other media) begins.