There is no point going ‘preachy vegan’ in a country where most people do eat fish. But although fishing does support some local communities (who tend to just fish enough to feed themselves and make a living), most fish sold today is from massive commercial fisheries on huge ships that trawl and catch everything in its path (seabirds, seals, dolphins, whale and sharks). If you do eat fish, look for the blue eco label from Marine Stewardship Council. Their 2022 report found 76% of Iceland’s own-brand seafood was certified (that means 24% own-brand and other brands aren’t). Some people prefer to boycott Canadian seafood, until the baby seal cull ends.
So if you don’t eat fish, here are some nice ideas (you can easily get omega 3 fatty acids from other foods or good supplements). Avoid seaweed for thyroid/iodine issues. Read up on creating a safe kitchen space for people & pets (many human foods are unsafe around animals). Also read the post on how to stop over-fishing (and ghost fishing waste).
Not just humans, but a lot of wildlife eat salmon – from kingfishers to river otters. Harbour seals also like salmon, and until recently, they were shot dead in Scotland to ‘protect fish stocks’. This is not just unkind but also traumatised visitors to the seashore (including children) who would find dead seals. On a more positive note, the UK government is presently considering banning the fishing of sandeels (the small silvery fish you see in puffin photos) realising that we have to protect the food of other creatures.
Vegan salmon (Loving it Vegan) is made with marinated tofu that’s seared and served with ground black pepper, red pepper flakes, chopped coriander, lemon wedges and vegan tartare sauce. Raw (or undercooked) salmon is toxic to pets (bones and a sometimes-fatal parasite).
Vivera plant-based salmon fillets are sold in most stores. This Dutch brand has the texture spot-on. It’s high in protein and tastes similar, with good reviews and no weird ingredients. Just fry in a little oil, or heat in the oven.
