Loch Fyne restaurants - Provenance

Oysters are sourced from Loch Fyne Oysters' own oyster farm and also other farms on the West Coast of Scotland. Oyster farming is an extensive, low-impact method of mariculture.

Fishing of Lake Smelt takes place in Turkey for only 3-4 weeks per year, usually during March. During these weeks it is fished in large volumes, but catch stops immediately when roe/egg become visible. The fish are caught using artisanal boats (no trawlers) in a large freshwater lake

All smoked salmon products are sourced from Freedom Food registered salmon farms and smoked at LFO in Cairndow. Freedom Food is the RSPCA's farm assurance and food labelling scheme dedicated to improving welfare standards for farmed fish. The scheme aims to promote caring and responsible farming. The fish are reared according to strict RSPCA standards.

The FAO considers the ecological impact of prawn farms as much less severe than shrimp farming. Prawn farms do not endanger mangroves as they are usually situated slightly inland and tend to be small-scaled family operated businesses.

Mackerel are managed under a TAC (Total Allowable Catch) of which the UK has just under 50% of the EU quota. Stock levels are deemed to be good and the fish are harvested sustainably.

Coley belong to the same family as cod and haddock but are less well known and therefore in more abundant supply. The MCS considers coley stocks to be within sustainable limits. There is a minimum landing size for coley in EU waters and fishing is prohibited in several areas where high numbers of juveniles are found.

The majority of mussels are sourced from Loch Fyne Oysters' own mussel farm. The mussels are grown on ropes suspended from a long line in the deep water of the loch and it takes between 2-3 years for mussels to grow to a marketable size. Rope-grown mussels are a low-impact method of farming and are considered highly sustainable. High water quality is required and all mussel site water is regularly tested.

Caught off the East Coast of Canada (Nova Scotia specifically) using pots and traps. The lobster fishery in Canada is highly regulated and has strict management measures including limit on pot numbers per vessel, minimum and maximum landing sizes and closed seasons and areas.

Caught by prawn trawlers in and around the N.E. Arctic (Barents Sea). The stock of the here is assessed as having full reproductive capacity and harvested sustainably.

Greek seabass production is carried out in sea cages so that the fish have adequate room to swim. The Greek Government are responsible for checking the welfare of the fish on a regular basis and a detailed methodology for assessing the environmental impact of aquaculture operations has been developed. When sourcing bass consideration is given to the environmental impact of the farming method and the sustainability of the farming operation.

Our haddock is line-caught from Icelandic and Norweigan waters in the N. E. Atlantic. Longlining is less fuel intensive and a generally more selective method of fishing. Stocks in this area are harvested sustainably.

The langoustine for the scampi is sustainably sourced from the ports of Kilkeel, Balbriggan and Skerries.

Our scallops are fished by small dredge boats within a carefully managed area off the traditional fishing village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne. The boats are owned and run by Kenny MacNab, a supplier of Loch Fyne for many years.

The major sustainability issue with wild-caught prawns is the high incidence of by-catch discarding which can include capture of endangered species such as sea turtles. Our tiger prawns are caught from small boats which use Turtle Excluding Devices (TEDs) and square mesh panels which prevent by-catch.

Cornish caught fish are subject to minimum landing size of 25cm above which lemon sole are said to be matured. The majority of our lemons are sourced from small day boats operating along the south coast, Cornwall and Devon. When this source is spawning then lemon sole are sourced from Iceland.

Our cod are line-caught caught and landed in Iceland and the North Sea. These are currently the 2005 year class (now mature) and this is estimated to be one of the most abundant amongst the recent below average year classes.

The clams are farmed in France and manually gathered - this is the most environmentally friendly method of collecting clams.

The monk cheeks are a by-product from general monkfish fishing and a great way of using the whole fish. In the West of Ireland, English Channel, Bristol Channel, South East Irelan, South Brittany, south and Central Biscay the stock is thought to be stable.

Caught using pots and traps by small / local fishing boats in the North Sea off the coast of Norfolk. Our supplier is a small family business which has been operating in the Cromer area for last 25 years.

The signal crayfish is an invasive, non-native species which has been introduced into Bristish waterways. There are currently no restrictions on catch size.

Cockles are widely distributed on coastlines throughout the N. Atlantic region. Hand gathering is a traditional method of harvesting cockles and local byelaws may prohibit landing of cockles below a certain size and impose restrictions on the amount collected.

Wild caught scallops from the N. E Atlantic, landed and processed in the Isle of Man. The state of queen scallop stocks is unknown however there are strict restrictions on catch area and time of catch for these.