Should we be allowed to eat seabass?
European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax, aka Bass, Sea Bass, Common Bass, White Perch, Loupe de Mer) are one of the more contentious fish in British angling circles. While it is popular amongst foodie circles it is a species which is seen as being at risk.
There are strict (and enforced) rules for fishing for Bass in British waters, and all recreational anglers should take the time to look up the rules and guidance for their region.
A Species At Risk
A 2013 study by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Sea) revealed the parlous state of the stocks of European seabass. At their lowest levels for 20 years, calls were made for stricter rules on catch limits, minimum sizes and even closed seasons during breeding months.
European seabass are currently listed as being of ‘Least Concern’ on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species – although it seems the last assessment was way back in 2008. You won’t find many conservation organisations promoting wild-caught seabass as being a good choice though – both the Marine Conservation Society and the Wildlife Trusts urge caution in eating European seabass from the wild.
Seabass sustainability varies depending on whether it was caught or farmed and where. Wild stocks are very low, so you’re most likely to find farmed options. The Best Choice is farmed bass certified by the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), or GLOBALG.A.P.. Most wild options are OK but need improvement. Avoid wild bass from the West of Scotland.Marine Conservation Society
Choose sustainably sourced seabass – the best option is farmed seabass grown in a recirculating system. If this is not available, any farmed seabass is a better choice than wild caught fish. The Wildlife Trusts are working with fishermen, researchers, politicians and local people towards a vision of ‘Living Seas’, where marine wildlife thrives.The Wildlife Trusts
Rules for Recreational Bass Fishing in 2024
As we are are nothing more than a group of islands masquerading as a landmass it is a little tricky to align marine conservation rules to national boundaries. Cooperation between nations is vital, and below you will find rules referring to ‘7a’ or ‘4b’ etc. These are zones of water around the UK and Europe, and you can find a map below that marks out the different areas.
In English waters there are simple rules for recreational seabass anglers. Full information can be found on the gov.uk website here.
- There is a closed season from 01 February 2024 to 31 March 2024
- 2 fish per day limit outside of that period
- A minimum size of 42cm for any fish that are kept – anything smaller must be released
The above applies for rod and handline only, and no bass can be taken by fixed or drift nets.
There are additional rules for bass nursery areas that must also be observed.
We live for wild food of all types – but we also want to make sure that when we harvest those species we aren’t adversely effecting the ecosystem that those species live as part of.
To put it bluntly – if those wild species aren’t there anymore then we can hunt, fish or forage for them. Anyone who takes food from the wild needs to be aware of the wider systems and management of those species.
If you drift over to any of the Facebook groups or forums dedicated to sea angling in the UK you will find a lot of criticism for anyone who lands a seabass and keeps it for the table – regardless of the legality. European seabass are arguably the most popular species for sports anglers, and most anglers hold them in high esteem. Pulling a larger seabass from the water and NOT returning it back to the sea is seen as a most egregious crime.
I admit that I have trouble agreeing with this stance – but then I don’t ‘get’ sports fishing that isn’t in pursuit of food. When I go fishing I am looking for legal and ethical wild food. Some of my best seabass fishing trips have involved 45 minutes of motoring out to the mark, 2 minutes of fishing, then 45 minutes of gentle motoring homeward. If I hit my limit of fish that I deem to be legal and safe to take then I will happily call it a day – I won’t catch and release 25 more just for the sake of the sport.
There’s a price paid every time we have a close interaction with a wild animal, and it’s the animal that pays that price. Hooking a fish and landing it will never be of benefit to the fish, and I wince at countless pictures of fish draped over barnacle-covered rocks, with the angler confident in their position that as long as they catch-and-release it will all be ‘OK’.
Richard is a UK wilderness skills and outdoor safety instructor with over a decade of experience working on expeditions, in SAR, training the military and emergency services.
He has appeared on television and web series numerous times, and is a regular contributor to podcasts, magazines and other publications.