What's in a name?

People often say, ‘what’s in a name?’ Well, when it comes to the common skate, the answer would be quite a lot. If there were a prize for the most inappropriately named fish, then the common skate would win hands down.

The ‘Skates and Rays’ category, is a generic title that covers around 20 different species, each with a very different conservation status! At M&J Seafood, we take our commitment to sustainability very seriously and we only source and sell blond ray skate, a species that is not endangered.  We understand that names, labels and titles aren’t necessarily as accurate as they could be, and none more so than in the case of the unfortunately named common skate. In fact, we would urge people to avoid eating skates and rays unless they are certain they are one of the smaller, more sustainable species from the North Sea and Celtic Seas.
Only fisheries for the smaller, faster growing species such as spotted, cuckoo, starry and blond ray would be considered sustainable at present. At M&J Seafood, our challenge – from fishermen to markets to suppliers to chefs to consumers – is to make the best informed decisions, each and every day.

We will continue to design measures that safeguard the vulnerable components of this group of species, while allowing safe harvesting of the more abundant parts. At M&J Seafood, we aim to stay one step ahead and preserve the future of our oceans. For us, it is important to avoid simplistic solutions that simply result in an increase in discarding.

We take our name and reputation very seriously. It’s a reputation built on delivering quality, sustainable products. So the next time you’re asked what’s in a name, remember M&J Seafood. It’s one that we’re very proud of.