Something a little different to mark World Aquatic Animal Day - here’s our list of mission-driven food companies making plant-based alternatives to fish and other so-called ‘seafood’ to help us keep marine animals off our plates.

April 3rd marked the second annual World Aquatic Animal Day. Launched by the Aquatic Animal Law Initiative (AALI) and the Animal Law Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School in the US, the annual event is intended to raise global awareness about animals who are severely impacted by human activity and yet frequently overlooked in law and policy.

This year’s World Aquatic Animal Day came just weeks after the collapse of United Nations negotiations to secure a legally binding treaty to protect the high seas - the open oceans beyond national jurisdictions where fish populations are being heavily exploited and where destructive deep-sea mining may soon take place. With only one per cent of the oceans currently protected, and Marine Protected Areas often not effectively managed, campaigners are calling for 30 per cent of the oceans to be given protected status.

While governments continue to fail to rein in the threats to marine life, there is one thing the rest of us can do that’s easily within our power to protect fish and other aquatic animals: stop eating them. These days, that needn’t even mean giving up your fish and chips. Here are some of the best plant-based seafood alternatives by companies that operate on vegan principles across all their products.

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Vegan Zeastar by Vegan Finest Foods

Dutch brand Vegan Finest Foods produced its wildly popular vegan tuna and salmon sashimi in 2018. Made with tapioca starch seaweed glucose, the sashimi is now also healthier with added omega-3 oils and flaxseed. The company has since also added calamari, shrimp and cod to its seafood range and in the UK is available from Ocado.

Good Catch

US company Good Catch makes fish-free shredded tuna, salmon, filets, patties, and crab cakes using a blend of peas, chickpeas, lentils, soy, fava beans and navy beans. Some of its products are now available in Tesco. Good Catch was co-founded by plant-based chefs Derek and Chad Sarno, who are also behind the plant-based Wicked Kitchen brand.

VBites

Tuna pate, fish fingers, fish steaks, and salmon slices are all available from British company VBites. Owned by Heather Mills, the former model who had to have her lower left leg amputated after being struck by a police motorcycle in 1993, VBites has its own factory in Corby, Northamptonshire, so there is no chance of cross-contamination with animal-based products. 

The Fry Family Food Co.

Fry’s has been making plant-based meat alternatives since 1991 and now also makes battered prawn pieces and crispy fish filets. A completely vegan company, Fry’s is available at several UK supermarkets.

The No Catch Co.

Not available in supermarkets, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention the No Catch Co., a vegan fish and chip shop founded by Ed Winters and Kevyn Bourke in Brighton last year after they saw how popular the ‘tofish’ and chips was at the Unity Diner, their joint venture in London. So if you find yourself on the Brighton seafront, be sure to pop along and try No Catch’s smoked haddock, popcorn ‘prawnz’ or calamari, all completely vegan and ocean-friendly.

Claire Hamlett is a freelance journalist, writer and regular contributor at Surge. Based in Oxford, UK, Claire tells stories that challenge systemic exploitation of and disregard for animals and the environment and that point to a better way of doing things.

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