DORSET seafood lovers can make ’appy food choices with the launch of a new interactive tool.

Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) has launched an app to help foodies make informed decisions when buying and eating fish.

The launch coincides with Dorset Food Week – a range of events showcasing the best of the county’s produce – which runs until November 2.

The ‘Fish Advisor’ app, available on iTunes, Google Play and Amazon, is part of DWT’s ‘Great Dorset Seafood Campaign’.

Users can get more information about a variety of Dorset-caught species and their fishing methods, summarising each species with a traffic light scoring system.

For example, the app approves rod and line caught mackerel and gill or fixed net sole, but in the case of shark and ray species, DWT suggests avoiding them completely.

DWT’s marine conservation officer, Emma Rance said: “On a global scale marine species face an uncertain future. They are threatened by overfishing and destructive fishing methods.

“However, on a local scale, there is something we can all do to help, and using DWT’s new Fish Advisor app will mean the general public can find out more about the seafood they consume.

“We are encouraging everyone to choose species that are caught locally, using more sensitive capture methods such as rod and line, or pots.

“By making the right decisions in a fishmongers, café or restaurant, we can improve the health of Dorset’s seas.”

There are more than 40 species of fish caught in Dorset, largely supporting a fleet of small boats using traditional methods.

For more information about the Great Dorset Seafood Campaign, visit greatseafood.org.uk