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The owner of an award-winning Heswall fish and chip shop has warned that cod could vanish from menus across the country if prices continue to rise.
Cos Michael, 41, runs Pisces Fish Bar in Heswall on Milner Road. The chip shop has been open since 2004. The third-generation chip shop owner, originally from Moreton but now living in Manchester, has been in the industry since he was 11. His Cypriot grandfather, also called Cos but known as Mike, established Michael's Fast Food after settling on the Wirral, according to the Liverpool Echo.
We previously reported how the chip shop won two recognition awards at the first-ever English edition of The Fish and Chip Awards. The two Highly Recommended awards were for Best Chip Shop in the North West and Best Fryer of the Year.
But Cos says there is a serious problem facing the industry that most customers do not realise - a lack of cod availability.
"Cod is at a critical point," he told the Echo. "It's one of the biggest challenges facing the fish and chip industry, and it's something every shop has to take seriously. Sustainability has to come first if we want future generations to enjoy the same product."
The high price of cod stems from several pressures. Severely limited fishing quotas resulting from overfishing, increased fuel and transport costs driven by the war in Ukraine and Middle East tensions, and international sanctions on Russian seafood have damaged the global supply chain of cod.
Andrew Crook, president of the National Federation of Fish Fryers, previously told the BBC there's a quarter of the availability of cod that there was six years ago. Therefore, "everybody's fighting for the same fish," he said.
But Cos said there isn't just one issue with cod; it's also the fact that finding high-quality fish is expensive, and they can't control it.
The fish and chip shop owner added people want the fish, but they want it cheap. As people have less disposable income now, they're selective when they spend their money, so they have high standards.
Still, Cos' family name carries weight in the industry, and he has good relationships with trusted suppliers and fishing boats.
However, he warned that cod will start to "[become] more limited over time" unless stocks recover. He argues that the industry must balance protecting the fish and ensuring there is a good and affordable supply for customers.
He even went as far as to say that cod could be "wiped from menus" if a lack of an affordable supply continues across the country.
At Pisces Fish Bar in Heswall, a small Atlantic prime cod and chips currently costs £9.20, while a large portion is £13.
