Plant-Based Alternatives to Cod & Tuna Fish
Moving Mountains is a brand of plant-based cod alternatives that you can find in the frozen aisle in stores everywhere. All items are made from natural ingredients, with no palm oil and sold in easy to recycle packaging (at supermarket bag bins, if your kerbside does not recycle.
This brand was founded by a vegetarian entrepreneur who was told by his GP to give up dairy for his health. He got better and now his products are sold nationwide, and widely used in food service.
For children and swallowing difficulties, cut fish fingers into small pieces and supervise, as they are choking hazards. Not real fish, so keep away from dogs and cats!
For tinned foods, rinse then remove lids (pop in cans) or pop ring-pulls back over holes. Pinch or flatten cans, to stop wildlife getting trapped.
Why switch to plant-based cod alternatives?
We’re not talking here about the lone fisherman who goes out to catch his lunch. But cod is now so over-fished on huge vessels, that it’s now an endangered species. 50% of fish stock(especially cod, haddock and plaice) in England’s waters are below safe biological limits.
Due to shortage of North Atlantic cod, some chip shops sell ‘rock salmon’ or ‘huss’ (which is dogfish – shark).
Alaskan pollock (the fish in McDonald’s filet-o-fish) is now also in danger. One expert says ‘if you don’t know what the fish in your meal is – it’s likely pollock). Over-fishing hurts wild stocks, and dolphins, turtles and harmless basking sharks end up as by-catch.
Fewer unwanted by-catch (dolphins, whales etc)
Vegan fish-fingers (as good as the captain’s!
Bycatch means animals are caught by accident while fishing for something else. This can include fish that aren’t wanted, plus wildlife such as turtles, seabirds, or sharks.
Some tuna fishing methods have higher bycatch risks. Longlines, for example, use many baited hooks. Purse seine nets can also catch more than the target species, depending on how they’re used. On the cod side, certain methods can disturb the seabed, which is home to plants and animals that support food chains.
Plant-based fish alternatives also removes concerns over mercury, that can build up in fish and the sea over time, and are to be avoided especially for pregnancy and children.
A Simple Recipe for ‘Chickpea Tuna!’
This recipe for chickpea tuna (The Simple Veganista) is very simple to make. Chickpeas are high in protein and calcium, and when mixed with chopped celery and vegan mayo (with salt/pepper) make a nice alternative.
Read our post on food safety for people and pets. Just bin allium scraps (onion, garlic, leeks, shallots, chives) and tomato/citrus/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures (they are okay to go in food waste bins, as this is made into biogas).
For tinned foods, rinse then remove lids (pop in cans) or pop ring-pulls back over holes. Pinch or flatten cans, to stop wildlife getting trapped.
Why Switch to Vegan Tuna?
Tuna (huge fish) are are of those that often are caught using by-catch methods like purse seine nets and longlines, catching other marine creatures like dolphins (who often swim alongside yellow fin tuna in the sea). Bluefin tuna is endangered, used to make Asian sushi.
Here’s a super-simple recipe from a now out-of-date book called Four-Ingredient Vegan. It kind of tastes like tuna (especially if you add a little kelp powder). It’s not 100% the same, but makes a nice filling for baked potatoes or sandwiches:
- Mash a can of drained chickpeas (full of protein and calcium).
- Add a chopped stick of celery
- Add add optional pinch of kelp (makes things taste ‘fishy’)
- Mix in few tablespoons of vegan mayo.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Where to Buy Vegan Tinned Tuna
If you don’t want to make your own, there are plenty of plant-based tunas on sale in stores like Vivera and Good Catch.
You can also buy ‘tins of vegan tuna’. Some are better than others (John West even do them, but they are all curry-based). If you prefer something more traditional, Plant Pioneers No Tuna Flakes (Sainsbury’s) are good, coated in vegan mayo and ideal for sandwiches or jacket potatoes.
The No Catch Co (Brighton’s vegan fish & chippy!)
The No Catch Co (Brighton) is England’s first vegan fish and chip shop! Set up by animal welfare campaigners, it was designed to offer an alternative to fish caught in nets (that catch other species), and help reduce fishing for cod (now endangered), sold in zero waste packaging.
Most items are made from algae-based protein (2.3 trillion fish are killed each year for food). The fishing industry also catches dolphins, seals, whales, sea turtles and sharks – and causes immense suffering and greenhouse gas emissions.
Diners are blown away by wonderful alternatives::
- Vegan Cod or Smoked Haddock & Chips
- Jumbo Battered Saveloy & Chips
- Jumbo Lemom Shrimp
- Calamari Sides & Chips
- No-Cow Desserts!
Chips are no longer wrapped in newspaper, due to food regulations. And if you visiting a normal fish and chip shop, it’s not good to buy ‘fish leftovers for cats’, as most are too fatty, and have hidden bones.
