By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER
Published: 10:17 BST, 6 August 2026 | Updated: 10:17 BST, 6 August 2026
No trip to the beach is complete without a serving of haddock and chips, but scientists warn that illegal fishing practices could spell the end of this seaside staple.
Researchers from Blue Marine Foundation warn that Britain's fish stocks face collapse as trawlers dump back vast quantities of less valuable species.
In some parts of the UK, trawlers are chucking back six times as much fish as they bring ashore – despite the practice having been banned under EU law in 2013.
Experts now warn that this has created a 'ticking time bomb' for the UK's marine ecosystems.
Plaice are the worst affected species since they are often caught as 'bycatch' while trawlers go after expensive sole.
But other species, such as haddock, are also thrown back in vast numbers by fishing fleets targeting Norway Lobster, the main ingredient in scampi.
Celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, whose Fish Fight series prompted the ban on throwing back fish, says: 'It is time to get angry about wasting fish again.
'This government loves to talk about food security – but if you are serious about that you have got to stop collapsing stocks by just throwing fish away.'
In some parts of the UK, trawlers are chucking back six times as much fish as they bring ashore – despite the practice having been banned under EU law in 2013. Pictured: A fisherman throws cod caught in the English Channel
To protect dwindling fish stocks, trawlers have strict limits on how much of certain species they can bring back to shore.
However, due to the large net used in industrial fishing, the fleets can't go after one valuable species without also dredging up tonnes of other fish.
This means that ships often fill up their quotas for less valuable fish before they are done catching their expensive targets, limiting how much profit they can make per trip.
To get around this, fishing vessels often chuck back vast quantities of unwanted species so they don't fill up their quota.