Apparently, I am constantly asked the question: Are vegans who eat fish? And frankly, the internet has complicated this process more than it needs to be.
The thing is as follows: No, vegans do not consume fish.
But I guess you are interested in the whole story. Perhaps you have encountered a person who claims to be a vegan, except for fish (yes, they actually say that). Or perhaps you are considering becoming plant-based, though you just adore your salmon. Whatever it was that took you here, we need to tear this apart.
What It Really Means to Be Vegan.
Veganism does not mean avoiding meat at dinner. It's bigger than that.
In the words of The Vegan Society (the people who literally came up with the term way back in 1944), veganism implies the practice of trying to avoid the exploitation of animals as much as feasible. That covers everything:
Food: No meat, chicken, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey.
Clothes: forego the leather, wool, and silk.
Products: Cosmetics and hair care products that are not tested on animals.
Entertainment: There is no zoos, aquariums, or animal circuses.
It is a way of living that is established on a single principle, and that being is that animals do not belong to us. And yeah, fish are animals. They are not given preference by the fact that they are living underwater.
Why Fish Don't Get a Free Pass
Other individuals believe that fish occupy this strange grey space. They don't.
Fish Actually Feel Pain
So this is one thing that could shock you; fish are far smarter than we would like them to be. The studies posted on PubMed indicate that fish:
- Feel genuine pain and stress
- Keep in mind things over months or even years.
- Use tools and solve problems
- Possess complicated social behaviours.
That fish do not feel any justification? Complete myth. They are living beings and they feel their world.
Fishing Is Destroying Our Oceans.
Then there is the green nightmare. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 34 per cent of fish stock is already overfished, and 60 per cent are already maxed out.
Industrial fishing causes:
- Fish species are becoming extinct at an alarming rate.
- Millions of dolphins, turtles and sea birds dying as bycatch.
- Development of the ocean floor through trawling.
- Huge plastic contamination (almost half of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is composed of fishing equipment)
- Eating fish is totally contradictory to the people who are vegan due to environmental reasons.
But What about Vegetarians who Eat Fish?
And there is a name of that: pescatarian.
You might be pescatarian- not vegan, because you do not take meat and poultry, but you take fish and seafood. Individuals become pescatarian due to many reasons:
- Urbanization (health advantages (omega-3s, protein, vitamin D))
- Environmental issues (not so much overfishing)
- Personal preference
- The transition to complete veganism.
- There is nothing bad about being pescatarian! Just don't call it vegan. That confuses everyone.
The Problem of The Vegan Who Eats Fish.
It becomes a literal problem when individuals claim to be vegan, although they consume fish:
It confuses communication: Real vegans find it difficult in restaurants trying to explain that there are no animal products, I mean, no animal products.
The companies become disoriented: Restaurants can believe that it is okay to add fish sauce to vegan food.
It alters the definition: Veganism is not only a diet but an animal rights philosophy.
You call yourself: You put fish on your menu.
- Pescatarian
- Mostly plant-based
- Plant-based with seafood
Just not vegan. It is neither judgmental nor asking questions.
What About Oysters and Clams?
This is the point of philosophical interest. Others who are otherwise vegan consume oysters and mussels since they do not have central nervous systems or brains.
Vegans are actually split on the following:
- Pro-bivalve farm: No brain, no pain, oyster farming purifies water.
- Anti-bivalve camp: It is not that they are not animals; we cannot really be sure about suffering, and it is a slippery slope.
- Oysters are omitted by most mainstream vegans, although the debate is yet to be closed.
Common Myths About Vegans and Fish
Let's kill some misconceptions:
- Myth: "Fish are basically ocean vegetables" Nope. Fish are vertebrate animals with complex nervous systems.
- Myth: "Vegans take fish oil supplements" Standard fish oil isn't vegan. But algae-based omega-3 supplements provide the same EPA and DHA without fish.
- Myth: "You need fish for health" Every nutrient in fish exists in plant sources or supplements. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics confirms that well-planned vegan diets are nutritionally adequate.
Alternatives of fish eaten by Vegans.
Asking what will take the place of fish? Plenty of options:
Sources of proteins: beans, lentils, tofu, tempeh, seitan, nuts, seeds, quinoa.
Omega-3s: Ground flaxseeds, chia, hemp, walnuts, as well as supplements of algae.
Such seafood: Nori seaweed, kelp flakes, banana blossom, vegan seafood products, such as Good Catch.
Vitamin D, fortified plant milk, and mushrooms, vitamin B12, supplements, iodine, seaweed, selenium, and Brazil nuts.
The Health Angle
Vegan and pescatarian diets can be healthy, provided they are done correctly.
Vegan advantages: The decreased risk of heart diseases, a reduced incidence of diabetes, improved blood pressure, improved cancer risk, and simplified weight.
Perks of being a Pescatarian: Direct omega-3s, good protein, B12 without supplements, vitamin D in fatty fish.
Fish consumption risks: Mercury in larger fish, microplastics (a 2019 Environmental Research study found microplastics in every fish sample tested), PCBs and other toxins, and sustainability concerns
Making the Switch from Pescatarian to Vegan
In case you want to stop eating fish, you can do so in the following way:
- Learn more about vegan nutrition, specifically B12 and omega-3s.
- Test vegan alternatives to seafood and seaweed.
- Be aware of your drive (ethics, environment, health)
- You may have to do it step by step--step by step.
- Find vegan groups of people.
- Balanced meals should be planned out and varied.
- Use B12, and take algae omega-3s into consideration.
Bottom Line
Vegans do not at all. Fish belong to the category of animals, and veganism does not permit any products of animals.
When you consume fish, but are not a meat eater, then you are a pescatarian--which is an entirely legitimate thing to be! Any action that decreases the consumption of animals can help.
The point is the correct assortment of words. It guides the vegans in the menus, supports the pescatarians in justifying their choices, and assists the restaurants in preparing suitable meals.
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