GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Swiss ate 9.1 kg of fish and seafood in 2013, a new record, and 6 percent more than they were eating 25 years ago. Virtually all of the fish is imported, 98 percent.

The figures were published 25 March by the WWF, which recommends that Swiss consumers buy less fish and try, when they do buy it, to buy more local fish from Swiss lakes. Hatchery fish don’t solve the problem that 87 percent of fish stocks are under threat from over-fishing, says the WWF.

Hatchery fish are fed a mix of flour and fish oil, contributing further to the problem.

When buying seafood occasionally, suggests the environmental group, buy only MSC label products and when buying other fish, look for the ASC label. Both of these are given to fish that meet standards for sustainable fishing.

The WWF in Switzerland has updated and improved both its online guide to sustainable consumer behaviour and its app, with a wealth of information about the fish we buy.

The web site is in French, German and Italian.