Plant-based fish alternatives

Just like all animals, fishes* are sentient. They can feel positive and negative emotions. Fishes have unique personalities. They can learn to use tools and build nests.

Unfortunately, they are not treated as such. Sustainability concerns, the recent documentary Seaspiracy and welfare campaigns are raising people’s awareness over the suffering of fishes.

To protect our oceans and help fishes, one of the best things you can do is keep them off your plate. Luckily there are some great options to try.

While some vegetarians and vegans prefer to avoid products that replace meat, because it reminds them of eating animals, others enjoy delicious plant-based alternatives because of their ease of use, texture and taste. The range keeps growing every year, so try them out to see which ones you enjoy most.

A photograph of Fry's Fish-Style Fillets in packaging. There is a stack of the fillets on the package.
Fry’s Fish-Style Fillets
A photograph of Fry's Praw-Style Pieces in packaging. There is a pile of the "prawns" on the package.
Fry’s Prawn-Style Pieces
A photograph of Gardein's Fishless Fillets in packaging. There is a stack of the fillets on the package.
Gardein – Fishless Filets
A can of Nature's Charm banana blossom that has a photograph of a blossom from a banana tree
Nature’s Charm Banana Blossom
A can of Nature's charm vegan calamari that has mushrooms in the top corner and a presentation of calamari in the other.
Nature’s Charm Vegan Calamari
A can of Nature's charm vegan scallop that has mushrooms in the top corner and a presentation of scallops in the other.
Nature’s Charm Vegan Scallop

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​​You can usually find Gardein products in the freezer section of your local supermarket. Fry’s fish-style products are available in store or online at the Cruelty Free Shop. All you need to do is bake or fry the fish-style filets or prawn-style pieces to your liking.

Nature’s Charm is sometimes in Supermarkets, often Countdown, but you’ll definitely be able to find their products in local vegan grocery stores such as the Cruelty Free Shop and V1 Vegan, who both deliver online. The vegan calamari comes ready to eat. The banana blossom has a fish-like texture, you’ll need to batter and fry these. Serve with some oven chips to get the classic kiwi ‘fish’ and chip meal.

Recipes

Three battered banana blossoms presented on a wooden board with a jar of a aioli and two lemons.

Vegan Banana Blossom ‘Fish‘

Banana blossoms have a soft flakey texture that makes them the perfect base for recreating vegan ‘fish’. If you’ve been craving vegan ‘fish’ & chips on the beach, this is the recipe for you!

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Two bagels with vegan cream cheese, carrot "salmon", red onion and capers presented on a wooden board with a dish with two slices of lemon in it.

Carrot ‘Salmon‘

If you’re keen to try something with a fish-like taste without buying any new products, check out Angel Food’s recipe for Carrot “Salmon.”

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Try the 21-day vegan challenge

Four dishes of vegan food - a yellow lentil soup; a chickpea, tofu and quinoa buddha bowl; a chocolate smoothie bowl; toast slices with pesto and hummus.

Want to take the next step to living a kinder, healthier and more planet-friendly lifestyle? Our friends at the Vegan Society have put this 21-day challenge together to make it easy for you to learn about and experience plant-based eating.
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Resources include a 21-day dinner menu plan that will be emailed to you daily, and a dedicated Facebook group for support and to ask questions of vegan mentors. You’ll find 21 days is the perfect length of time to allow your taste buds to change and new eating habits to form.

There are two options to choose from: The Easy Vegan Challenge and the Pacifika Vegan Challenge.

Find out more and sign up! 
Four dishes of vegan food - a yellow lentil soup; a chickpea, tofu and quinoa buddha bowl; a chocolate smoothie bowl; toast slices with pesto and hummus.

*The term ‘fishes’ rather than ‘fish’ is increasingly being adopted by the animal advocacy movement to recognise and emphasize the individuality of the intelligent, feeling individuals we are describing. (The fish-farming industry only measures fishes in tonnes, rather than numbers of individuals.) 

Last updated: 8 April 2022