And it has recommended that retailers should not buy North Sea cod (they do not include Icelandic and Norwegian cod in this list) along with swordfish and ling.

The MCS says the Co-op group of stores has the best record on sustainability, having eliminated all the fish the society has urged retailers to avoid selling. Other store chains which have performed well in this respect are Sainsbury's, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Morrisons.

Sam Wilding, the society's fisheries officer, said: 'In European waters, nearly nine-tenths of fish stocks are overfished. Supermarkets supply 80 per cent of the seafood sold in the UK.

'Both consumers and retailers can help stop the overfishing crisis if supermarkets supply their customers with sustainably sourced seafood. MCS wants all Britain's major supermarkets to use a sustainable seafood sourcing policy and provide their customers with good information on sustainable seafood choice.'

He added: 'The supermarkets included in this survey are trying harder than ever before to put sustainability at the heart of their sourcing. MCS was very disappointed that seven retailers did not respond and finds their reluctance to take part difficult to understand given that the survey celebrates the progress made by supermarkets in supplying sustainable seafood.' 

The MCS said others needed to improve their sourcing by buying more aquaculture produced fish and by clearer labelling on fish sold in their stores.

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