Sea Shepherd founder Paul Watson puts it bluntly: "Sustainable fishing is a fraud."
'Sustainable fishing' is a marketing label used to manage our guilt.
Every year, 650,000 whales, dolphins and seals are killed accidentally in fishing nets - it's what is called bycatch.
Bottom trawling drags enormous nets across the ocean floor, wiping out coral reefs and seagrass beds. It destroys 97% of coral colonies in the areas it touches.
300,000 sharks and rays die the same way.
1 in 3 shark species is now at risk of extinction.
The "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" everyone talks about is mostly fishing gear.
Not plastic straws... Fishing gear!
Fish farming is a disaster, it is not the answer.
Overcrowded, polluted, and still pulling wild fish from the ocean for feed.
The ocean doesn't need better fishing. It needs us to stop 🛑
Personally, eating fish/seafood was the last thing I gave up when I decided to commit to fully being vegan. Truthfully, I didn't see fish the same way I saw land animals.
But when I finally acknowleded all of the above, I couldn't keep ignoring it. Beyond the destruction of our beautiful oceans and ecosystems, fish feel pain.
They have complex nervous systems. They suffocate slowly when they're pulled from the water. And the way we're catching them - it's not just cruel, it's catastrophic.
It was a habit I consciously and intentionally decided to commit to and change. Ofc there was a period of adjustment but now I don't even think about it and it feels sooooo good to fully live aligned completely with my values.
Here are the Vegan Alternatives I enjoy:
🍣 Vegan Sushi
- Avocado Rolls: the.best.thing.ever. I could actually live off of these
- Terriyaki Tofu Rolls
- Agedashi Tofu - it's got to be spicy!
- Edamame
- Veggie Gyoza
- Veggie Udon, Veggie Teppanyaki, Veggie Rolls
- Tempura Yam Rolls + Tempura Veggies - check for egg in the tempura batter
For the chefs out there:
Vegan Tuna Roll (Watermelon or Tomato Tuna)
Marinate cubed watermelon or roasted tomato in soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, and nori flakes. The texture is uncannily similar to raw tuna. Roll with sushi rice and nori.
Avocado Roll
The classic - ripe avocado, sushi rice, nori. Add cucumber and sesame seeds. Drizzle with sriracha mayo (vegan mayo + sriracha).
Tofu Roll (Spicy "Salmon")
Press and slice firm tofu, marinate in a blend of sriracha, soy sauce, and a touch of beet juice for colour. Mix with vegan mayo. Roll with rice and nori. Sprinkle togarashi on top.
🥗 Chickpea Tuna Salad
Mash one can of drained chickpeas.
Mix with:
- Vegan mayo
- Dijon mustard
- Finely diced celery and red onion
- Capers or dill pickles (for that briny ocean flavour)
- Nori flakes or kelp powder (essential, this is what makes it taste like the sea)
- Lemon juice, salt, pepper
Serve on toast, in a wrap, or stuffed in an avocado half.
🐟 Tofu Salmon Steaks
Slice extra-firm tofu into thick steaks.
Marinate for at least an hour in:
- Soy sauce or tamari
- Miso paste
- Rice vinegar
- Smoked paprika (for that smoky salmon depth)
- Beet juice (for the pink colour)
- Nori flakes
- a dash of liquid smoke
Pan-sear in a hot cast iron with oil until golden and slightly crispy on the outside. Serve with lemon, capers, and dill. The miso and nori combo makes it genuinely taste like the ocean.
The ocean doesn't need to be on your plate for you to enjoy it.
