From Tomato Sushi to Fishless Fillets, These Vegan Seafood Companies Are Changing the World

While plant-based chicken and beef have been around for decades, in recent years we’ve seen the exciting rise of plant-based seafood. In fact, Good Catch, a new startup working on bringing its vegan tuna and crab to market, won VegNews’ Best in Show award at last week’s Natural Products Expo West.

Here are some of the most innovative companies working hard to take the suffering out of seafood:

Best known for its vegan tomato Ahimi, Ocean Hugger Foods aims to help save the oceans while giving consumers the taste of tuna they enjoy.

At this year’s Seafood Expo North America in Boston, the company saw hundreds of interested customers try its delicious product. Created by master chef James Corwell, Ahimi uses a proprietary process to make tomatoes taste like tuna sashimi.

Ahimi is currently marketed to the foodservice sector and is available at select Whole Foods and at some restaurants and cafeterias in the U.S. and Canada.

Another company poised to shake things up is Finless Foods, a Silicon Valley startup creating seafood without harming any fish. Co-founder Brian Wyrwas explains that they strive to reproduce “the sound, sizzle, smell, and consistency of a fish fillet.

Others making a splash include Sophie’s Kitchen, Gardein, and New Wave Foods. They’re all part of a growing list of vegan companies working to protect fish and save our oceans by creating delicious cruelty-free seafood.

The fishing industry is responsible for destruction of vital aquatic ecosystems and irreversible damage to populations of all forms of marine life. Ocean trawlers indiscriminately sweep up countless animals in massive nets, and fish factory farms are breeding grounds for dangerous parasites and pathogens.

Fishing is both unsustainable and unspeakably cruel.

In 2011 Mercy For Animals conducted an undercover investigation at a fish slaughter facility and exposed fish being skinned alive. They thrashed and fought to escape the workers’ knives. As the fish gasped for oxygen, workers ripped off their skin with pliers.

Sadly, while mounting evidence proves that fish feel pain, they’re not granted any protections from cruelty. In fact, not a single law protects fish in the U.S., whether they’re raised as pets, research subjects, or food.

But thanks to these innovative vegan companies, it’s never been easier to remove our support from the cruel fishing industry and switch to a compassionate plant-based diet. Click here to get started. And be sure to check out these cruelty-free, sea-inspired recipes.