Alternative Seafood Is 2023's Upcoming Trend For Ocean Lovers

The push for sustainability movements in every industry has been on the rise, including the food industry. While some people may start with meatless Monday, finding vegan alternatives to our favorite foods is now becoming the norm. From milk alternatives offered at cafes on every block to imitation vegan meats or even fully raw diets, this push for eating sustainably is no longer a fad. While everyone has their own reason for eating certain diets, one of the many reasons for reducing meat is to help the environment.

Pescatarian, a term many are familiar with, is someone who follows a mostly vegetarian diet but also eats fish and seafood (via Healthline). While many pescatarians opt to eat this way for health purposes, environmental and ethical concerns also play a part. Compared to animal meat or dairy products, fish and seafood consumption results in a lower carbon footprint and causes fewer greenhouse gas emissions. With this being said, there has been some information surfacing about corruption and misinformation within the fishing industry, such as that from the documentary "Seaspiracy" which has changed many people's views. This new information may cause a change in seafood consumption, so alternative seafood is predicted to be on the rise this coming year.

Just like how Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, and others introduced meat alternatives, vegan seafood is now beginning to pop up in supermarkets and on menus. As mentioned by Global Food Forums, the demand for seafood alternatives has increased due to a change in consumer perception. Seafood has long been marketed as a healthy and sustainable choice, but now, questions are rising to the surface about the truth of those claims. 

These questions will result in a rise in plant-based seafood alternative companies that intend to make veganism more accessible. They aim to produce products that are just as satisfying as animal-based products. For example, New Wave offers plant-based shrimp that can be enjoyed as you would regular shrimp and Mimic Seafood created a plant-based alternative to tuna made from tomatoes. And if you're feeling fancy, Avafina Organics has made chiaviar, a chia seed-based vegan caviar. 

Not only is imitation seafood becoming a new reality, but according to Supermarket News, consumers are interested in new ways of utilizing the ocean's resources. Innovative companies are looking to reshape people's mindsets surrounding seaweed and algae. Seaweed pasta, kimchi, and jerky are among some of the many innovative products being made from available sea plants (via The New York Times). If you're curious to attempt some vegan seafood at home, start with these alternatives that were in your cupboard all along!