Following the release of Seaspiracy, an investigative documentary lauded for its deep dive into the environmental impacts of commercial fishing, online searches for terms such as “vegan seafood” have soared, according to Plant Based News.
The surging interest in alternative seafood follows a year-long incline, with searches in the US increasing by 100% between March 2020 and 2021.
Seafood Market
The growth in demand for fishless fish products has been notable within the meat alternative market, and the everyday consumer may have noticed an expanding selection of plant-based seafood products lining grocery store shelves. From frozen cod-style patties to the many variations of plant-based tuna, it has become evident that what used to be a fish-shaped gap in the vegan food industry is quickly being filled by products aiming to replicate the taste and texture of the world’s favourite seafood. The proof is in the pudding; by 2031, the global plant-based fish industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 30%. As a result, it’s predicted to exceed $1.3bn in value.
Revenue of Seafood market
Yet, while the alternative seafood market is set to make waves throughout the next decade, sales for vegan fish products are still a drop in the ocean compared to those for beef, pork and chicken alternatives. Alongside the plant-based milk industry, which now accounts for 35% of the entire plant-based food market, meatless meat companies are currently enjoying phenomenal success. In the US, the industry is now worth more than $7bn, with companies like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat carving a path for themselves as market leaders.
It’s impossible to discuss the growing popularity of plant-based food, especially plant-based meat, without commending Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat. These two powerhouses have revolutionized the meatless meat market with vegan burgers, meatballs and sausages that imitate their traditional counterparts – and with truly impressive results.
Plan Based Mean
Although plant-based meats have faced criticism for their unfamiliar and highly processed ingredients (soy leghemoglobin, anyone?), we can’t deny that they’ve piqued the interest of vegan and non-vegan consumers across the globe.
Whether the plant-based meat market will continue along this trajectory when lab-grown meat becomes readily accessible and affordable for the average consumer, it’s impossible to say. Nevertheless, given that plant-based meat sales are motivated by the rising vegan population and that lab-grown meat is unlikely to be the top choice of food product amongst ethically-driven vegans, it’s difficult to imagine that plant-based meat companies will halt their production lines any time soon.
Environment Concerns
Interestingly, environmental concerns surrounding the breeding, exporting and slaughtering of animals are a key driving force behind many US consumers’ decision to cut back on eating meat. Animal welfare is regularly touted as the primary reason for adopting a plant-based diet, but 2020 research shows that 49% of Americans who have cut back on meat cite environmental concerns as a significant reason for doing so.
However, until recently, the fishing industry had managed to hide its massive eco-footprint from the everyday consumer. Microplastics, oil spills and lost cargo containers have each taken a turn under the spotlight for polluting waterways and killing marine life.
Still, the fishing industry and its reputation have generally remained unscathed. This is despite reports claiming that discarded fishing gear now accounts for the most plastic pollution in the ocean and that bottom trawling releases as much CO2 as the aviation industry. Yet, with documentaries like Seaspiracy shining a light on a traditionally untouched issue, it’s no surprise that concerns about the fishing industry – and the ecological devastation it is responsible for – are mounting.
Fish has long been considered the eco-friendly alternative to red meat and poultry, so this shift in public perception is sure to shake up the global demand for seafood. For instance, with 70% of UK seafood consumers valuing sustainability in their food choices, we can expect to see a greater demand for eco-conscious products that look, taste and smell like fish throughout British markets.
Of course, alternative seafood products have slightly different challenges to meet than imitation chicken, pork and beef. Flaky textures, delicate yet distinguishable flavours and rich omega-3 content make it significantly more difficult for plant-based food brands to create products that embrace everything seafood has to offer.
There’s another major barrier separating vegan fish producers from dominating the plant-based market – the sheer number of seafood types readily enjoyed by consumers. The term “fish” is a category rather than a definitive product. If vegan seafood innovators are to wow vegans and non-vegans (and match Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods in popularity), leaving items like shrimp, crab and squid off the table simply isn’t an option.
Luckily for flexitarians, vegetarians and fish-loving vegans, offering a diverse range of plant-based seafood products is precisely what many companies have set out to achieve. From Loma’s soy protein “Tuno” to BeLeaf’s vegetable fibre shrimp, we’re beginning to move past frozen cod-style fillets and fishless fingers to something more gourmet. Impossible Foods has also teased its move into the plant-based fish market, confirming that alternative seafood is the next big trend in vegan cuisine.
One of the game-changing companies we should all keep our eyes on is Dutch brand Zeastar, which is shaking up the vegan seafood market with its realistic yet entirely plant-based salmon sashimi. What’s more, Zeastar products are manufactured with vegan omega-3 sources. If consumers can enjoy the freshness and nutritional value traditionally obtained from fish and shellfish, without the ethical or environmental conundrum attached with consuming animal products, we’re confident that the market will continue to make a splash.
So, will vegan seafood ever become as popular as imitation meat? It certainly has the potential to, especially as public interest in commercial fishing and its environmental footprint rides high. And, if vegan food giants like Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat direct their energy towards fish-inspired plant-based grub, there’s no reason why they can’t replicate many of their meatless meat successes.
One thing’s for sure: the future of food is coming – and plant-based cuisine is at the helm.
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