Moving Mountains fishless fillets
Fishing does support local communities, but most fish sold is from commercial fisheries on huge ships that trawl and catch everything in its path (seabirds, seals, dolphins, whale and sharks).
If you 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.
Cod is one of the most popular fish choices in England, despite 90% of cod (and tuna) in our seas already having been caught. Fish farms are not the answer (they are cruel and spread disease). As cod and haddock are the most common order at chip shops, some are even selling spiny dogfish (a kind of shark) without telling customers.
Most chip shop ‘fish’ is sourced from Iceland and Norway (mostly from one trawler). Yet when asked, just a third of MPs knew that most fish sold is from waters beyond our waters. .
The company also makes fishless fingers – as good as the Captain’s! Serve with mashed potatoes, mushy peas and ketchup.
Ireland’s Sea & Believe produces plant-based cod’ and goujons from seaweed (it’s re-training Irish fisherman to become seaweed farmers, to provide jobs in rural communities).
Make Your Own Vegan Tuna Mayo
Bluefin tuna is now in serious decline, to illegal and over-fishing. Plus there are the others of bycatch, when other creatures are caught in nets (sea turtles, dolphins, seals, whales and sharks). These vegan tuna mayo sandwiches (The Veg Space) are simple to make, using chickpeas and nori seaweed (for a real ‘taste of the sea).
Avoid seaweed for thyroid/iodine issues. Read up on creating a safe kitchen space for people & pets (many human foods are unsafe around animals).
Tuna is a large fish that can live over 10 years (one tagged off New England’s coast was found 14 years later, on the other side of the Atlantic).
Also try this chickpea ‘tuna sandwich (So Vegan). When you mash up tinned chickpeas with vegan mayo and some flavours (celery, capers, lemon, dill) it really does taste and have the same mouth-feel as real tuna.
Canned ‘fish in oil’ (from peas!)
Fishpeas is a unique company from Latvia, which sells a range of ‘canned fish in oil’. The difference is that rather than cod or pollock, it’s made from peas! Pea protein, to be exact, one of the most popular and natural replacements to animal protein. And peas grow abundantly in Latvia, which is also a good idea to use them up!
Pollock is so over-fished, that sustainability experts say that if you don’t know the fish you’re eating – it’s likely pollock. It’s used in McDonald’s Filet-0-Fish (make your own vegan version!)
The range includes:
- Vegan Wheat Pollock with Veggies
- Vegan Wheat White Fillet
- Wheat Tuna (flakes in brine)
- Fish Pea Flakes with Chilli
- Vegan Flakes with Lemon Pepper
- Vegan Flakes with Nori Leaves
Plus a range of other products:
- Tomato, Onion and Leek Danish Spread
- Coconut, Ginger and Lemon Spread
- Dried Tomato and Lentil Spread
- Bean, Corn and Paprika Mexican Salad
Seaweed Fish Alternatives from Germany
Bettafish is one of the world’s most natural and innovative fish alternative brands, from Germany (Berlin is the world’s most vegan-friendly city). These items are based on seaweed
Why Seaweed Instead of Fish?
Seaweed when harvested sustainably, is a zero waste crop. It grows fast and only needs seawater and sunshine to grow organically, and seaweeds sequester carbon dioxide into oxygen, which is good for fish and marine creatures. And of course there’s no by-catch of innocent creatures like sea turtles, dolphins, whales or sharks in nets.
Bettafish makes products from seaweed that grows in crystal-clear waters off the Irish and Norwegian coasts. The company is providing an alternative income for people in Norway who used to catch fish for a living. Now instead, they put more seaweed in, and leave the fish alone!
This unique European brown seaweed tastes the same as ‘seafood’ and have such good umami, they need less salt, and also give valuable fibre and minerals.
The company works with the foodservice industry. And to make vegans a little bit annoyed, in Germany their products are sold widely in budget supermarkets like Aldi (even in ready-made sandwiches) but not so here in England. Why not?
The range includes:
Sal-NOM is made from fava beans and peas, and sold as a plant-based alternative to canned salmon, rich in omega 3 fatty acids. Also in a glass jar, perfect in a bagel or with tagliatelle.
TU-NAH is their plant-based tuna alternative, also in cans or jars, and great for vegan sushi. This base product is included in their ready-made tun-ah sandwiches (plain, sweetcorn or chilli), plus there’s also a spread for crackers.
