Tuna is one of the more popular seafoods, but there are huge issues with over-fishing which causes by-catch (dolphins, seals, whales, sea turtles and sharks get caught in nets) and ghost fishing waste (discarded hooks and nets trap marine creatures and seabirds). Almost half of all Pacific garbage is made up of discarded fishing nets, with up to 5 million fish caught every minute. Try this vegan tuna salad (Crowded Kitchen).
Avoid seaweed for thyroid/iodine issues. Read food safety for people & pets (many human foods are unsafe around animal friends).
Plant-based tuna recipes are very simple and tasty. Tuna are large fish that can live over a decade (one fisherman off New England’s coast tagged one in 2004 that was found in a Mediterranean fish trap 14 years later, proving they can swim the entire Atlantic ocean). This Vegan Tuna Mayo (the Veg Space) is made from chickpeas and nori seaweed.
a ‘tuna’ made from wild Scottish seaweed
Sea Bloom is one of the new plant-based seafood companies coming to market. The tuna-free flakes are made with wild Scottish seaweed, so they are full of flavour and nutrition. Recycle packaging at supermarket bag bins, if your kerbside does not collect.
The brand was founded by Greta (not that one) who whilst marvelling at whales on an ocean trip, had the moment ruined by the ugly sound of a large industrial fishing vessel. Knowing how sustainable wild seaweed is, she decided to create a new food brand that is wowing everyone.
Already on sale in many stores and with investments pending, the company also makes ‘fish-free burgers’ that are full of protein and omega 3 fatty acids.
other good brands of plant-based tuna
Fishpeas sells ‘canned fish’ for vegans including tuna flakes, white fillet in oil and wheat pollock. Sold in tins, these are made with pea protein and come from Latvia. Most supermarkets now sell tins of vegan tuna. Choose from own brands (like Sainsbury’s Chuna’) or major brands (John West now offers vegan tuna).
Bettafish is a German company offering vegan tuna made from peas and sustainably-harvested seaweed (from a Norwegian algae farm) with users saying it’s tastes like the real thing. It also offers ready-made tuna products like pizza and sandwiches (sold in Aldi on mainland Europe, why not here?)
