Guide To Vegan Seafood - Everything You Need To Know

Welcome to the catch of the day! Can a vegan eat seafood? Of course, not. That’s why we’ve got a whole section dedicated to vegan seafood. 

Iconic faves like fried calamari, crab cakes, and fish sticks are delicious. We don’t want to give them up! But who says we should? Meat alternatives have been making quite a name for themselves recently, and the same can be said for vegan seafood.

Let’s unpack the details on vegan seafood!

Is Seafood Vegan?

No. A vegan diet will not allow for any seafood! You might be thinking about a pescatarian diet - which allows eating seafood and eggs, but still avoiding meat and poultry.

That said, we know how some people just love their tuna and salmon dishes. That’s why vegan seafood is great. You get all the delicious flavors, but you harm zero aquatic life. 

These are salty, deliciously briny, and tasty alternatives that taste just like the real thing - but without the bad stuff that’s commonly associated with them. Vegan seafood will also match the texture of your fave fish dishes. You can find everything from flaky vegan fish to “raw” imitations with just the right amount of bite.

Whatever Food We See, We Don’t Eat!

Here, we tackle (pun intended) why vegan seafood is essential - not only for our food, but also for the planet. 

We like our landscapes, oceans, seas, rivers, and lakes. As much as possible, we don’t like disturbing them. It keeps everything peaceful and pristine. The more we eat our fishy friends, the more likely commercial efforts will take them over. What do we mean?

Farmed Fish

Fish farms, for example, have the potential to transfer diseases and parasites to migrating fish. The aquatic ecosystem may also be affected by the sheer amount of fecal matter that also comes from the farmed fish. Think of the food being given to the fish as well, they may be loaded with excess nutrients or foreign material - these could all affect the ecosystem!

If you think this only affects our aquatic friends, think again! Other animals that feed on fish will ingest whatever the fish has been eating. Think of the water they’ll be drinking as well! And about that…

Water Quality

We all need water to live. Apart from animals being affected by the contaminated waters of farmed fishing, humans are as well. Locals near the affected body of water may rely on it for their day-to-day lives. They can potentially get sick from ingesting that! 

Now let’s turn that back around and go back to our fish friends. Yes, humans and animals need water to live but the fish literally live in it. Fish living in polluted waters may as well be the same as humans living in polluted air. It’s never a good thing.

Also Read - Top 9 Vegan Meat Alternatives

Kinds of Vegan Seafood

We’re going to simplify our vegan seafood list to reflect how they’re normally eaten. So, we’ve shortened this list to tinned, frozen, raw substitutes, and spreads. We think that’s easy enough to understand - especially if you happen to be used to more conventional meats! 

Tinned Vegan Seafood

You’ve seen the tons of canned tuna stocked in supermarket shelves. Now, you have your vegan variations! Like regular canned tuna, plant-based alternatives have different flavors and seasonings. You can get tinned vegan tuna swimming in olive oil, with lemon and pepper, seasoned with herbs, or already with plant-based mayo (great for sandwiches)!

Frozen Vegan Seafood

A modern household is powered by frozen meals! Of course, we’ve got frozen options here. From crab cakes, fish sticks, battered shrimp, fish filets, and fish patties… we’ve got the lot. Your usual appetizers, burgers, and snacks can now be made with a plant-powered recipe.

Raw Fish Substitutes

Why would we need raw alternatives? Well, we love sushi and poke bowls! Also, smoked salmon slices with some cream cheese on a toasted bagel make a delicious combination. Thanks to these raw fish alternatives, you can feast on your fishy feasts without worry!

Vegan Seafood Spreads

If you used to love eating fishy tuna sandwiches, then these are perfect for you. You’ll have tuna spreads and salmon spreads that you can sometimes even double up and add some umami flavors to sauces and dips.

Check out - Is Plant Based Meat Healthy? Everything You Need to Know

Now You Know!

There you go. You’re now familiar with what makes vegan seafood great. If you’d love to get your hands on some, no need to cast a line. Just head on over to Vegan Essentials! We’ve got all your vegan seafood needs and then some. You can shop for as much as you like, and we’ll even deliver them straight to you!