Vegan Lobster and The Benefits To The Environment

One of the most common reasons people decide to go vegan is environmental concerns. The environmental benefits of living a vegan lifestyle are well-documented. However, the general view of the issue isn’t all that well-rounded.

Vegan lobster is a great and tasty alternative with endless benefits.

More dedicated vegans consider the leather, fur, and cosmetics industries as well. Most people focus primarily on their menu, though. And when they think of environmental factors, they usually consider the meat and dairy food production trends.

The factory farm industry is a well-known culprit of carbon emissions, water consumption, etc. This is mostly due to the sheer amount of resources needed for rearing such vast numbers of livestock.

But there’s more to it than just cattle farm greenhouse gas. Removing seafood products from your menu might be just as important, if not more so. Join the cause!

If you’re having trouble committing to that aspect of vegan life, or if you’ve made the choice but you just can’t shake that lobster craving, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll detail the environmental benefits of cutting seafood out of your diet. Next, we’ll cover some delicious vegan lobster recipes.

We’ll also answer your concerns about keeping food tasty while being sustainable. With the right approach, you won’t miss salmon and shellfish one bit!

Learn more about Vegan Lobster and The Benefits To The Environment.

Is eating seafood really bad for the environment?

Yes.

As we mentioned, the factory farm industry gets most of the flak for how it impacts the environment. Considering all the livestock crowding, that bad rep is certainly justified. That said, let’s not let the fishing industry off the hook so quickly.

While the fish themselves don’t contribute as much greenhouse gas emissions as cows or other livestock, the fishing boats more than makeup for that.

How do fishing boats contribute to environmental damage?

A commercial fishing boat can cause serious harm to the water and its inhabitants. Though it varies with the type of fish being caught, the overarching impact is similarly destructive.

There are two important factors here: boat mechanics and fishing technique. In other words, the problem is split between how the boats work and how the fishermen do their job.

They use non-eco-friendly fuels

Many boats use fuel in a seriously under-optimized way, especially when catching shellfish like shrimp and lobster. As per an article released by Sustainable Fisheries – boats have to constantly stop and start to place and/or collect traps.

Commercial fishing boats are typically powered by fossil fuels. The constant stopping and starting increase overall fuel consumption, gas emission, and risk of leaks.

But the problem is more than just fuel use. Like in the dairy and meat industries, the seafood industry’s food production practices are just not sustainable.

Here, again, we have two problems: how the catch is treated and how the equipment affects the marine ecosystems.

They employ environmentally damaging methods

One Green Planet points out that the fishing methods of trawling, gillnets, and longlines catch unintended targets like sharks, dolphins, and whales.

They explain that “This ‘bycatch,’ which often includes injured marine animals, is then discarded back into the water. This causes suffering, and putting further strain on species that are already struggling to thrive as a result of pollution and the effects of climate change.”

To make matters worse, the lining and nets used by commercial fishers damage coral and seagrass, which are both home to different species of fish and ocean life.

Is there a sustainable way to enjoy seafood?

It’d be more accurate to say there’s a “more sustainable” way to enjoy it, but that’s a relative term.

Even groups in favor of eating seafood like Sustainable Fisheries acknowledge that consuming products like lobster and shrimp increases greenhouse gas emissions.

Seafood Watch details what environmentally-friendly consumption looks like: “For wild-caught seafood that means the populations are well-managed and not overfished, and fishing gear has minimal impact on habitat and other wildlife.”

They point to aquaculture as a more sustainable approach that helps avoid overfishing. Aquaculture is essentially farming fish and seafood instead of catching them in the wild.

“When good practices are used, it’s possible to farm seafood in a way that minimizes impacts to the environment. Such operations limit habitat damage, disease, pollution, escapes of farmed fish and the use of wild fish as feed.”

Of course, just like with certain meat and dairy labels (for example, “cage-free,”) consumers should always be cautious. If a seafood brand is claiming to be cruelty-free or more humane than the standard food choices, challenge that.

Before you buy, research the brand. They should be transparent about their methods. It should be 100% clear to the average consumer how exactly their seafood is more humane.

Be especially wary of any brand that uses complicated language and convoluted explanations. Chances are they aren’t really cruelty-free and they’re just trying to confuse you.

Personally, we find it easier to eliminate animal products altogether and stick to a vegan diet. As you’ll see, that still leaves you with plenty of menu choices.

Does vegan seafood taste good?

Yes!

We can’t tell you how many times have a heard a die-hard carnivore to admit that a vegan hamburger “actually tastes pretty good.”

A good vegan lobster roll or vegetable sushi roll is no different.

NoPigNeva has a vast vegan seafood collection that will satisfy everyone’s cravings. The vegan jumbo shrimp is so realistic that you’ll be triple-checking the packaging to make sure it’s actually vegan.

The plant-based vegan scallops make a great snack as well. To top it all off, the amazing vegan tartar sauce from Follow Your Heart will guarantee that you really get the full experience.

Even if you spare some sea life and cut actual lobster and fish out of your diet, you won’t be missing out.

Vegan products are becoming easier and easier to find. There will still be plenty of choices for you at the grocery store and on the menu.

What are some great ways to enjoy vegan lobster?

I’ve been vegetarian for 9 years and vegan for 4 years, and that just goes to show that you don’t have to be a good cook to commit to a diet completely free of animal products.

Of course, you may want to kick your cooking game up a notch anyway. Or maybe you’d just prefer to know what food you’re going to be left with before you make the choice to completely cut our aquatic friends out of your diet.

We’ve got you covered. Here are some quick vegan seafood recipes that will have all of your non-vegan friends saying “I can’t believe it’s not lobster!”

Vegan lobster roll

If you live in a less vegan-friendly area or want to save money by cooking at home, or if you just want to impress your friends with a cool recipe, then it pays to learn the whole process from scratch.

A quick Google search will give you plenty of options, and you can find a quick list of what you’ll need for your homemade vegan lobster roll recipe right here.

Most of the recipes online will require you to have yam, yam flour, seitan, hearts of palm, and paprika. Add lemon juice for flavoring, plus some orange food coloring for a realistic look. After all, presentation is 90 percent of cooking.

This recipe is a great option for anyone looking to make a vegan lobster roll, especially if you’re used to the genuine item. It uses a lot of the same ingredients as the animal-based recipe, like Old Bay seasoning, celery, red onion, paprika, lemon juice, and (vegan) mayo. For its main lobster substitute, this recipe uses hearts of palm.

As a nice added bonus for those of us who are a little more nervous in the kitchen (guilty), this vegan lobster roll recipe is pretty light on equipment. No mess, no clutter, no ton of dishes to clean.

Plus, you won’t have to figure out any fancy new kitchenware that you’ve never heard of before reading this article. All you’ll need is a large bowl, measuring utensils, a large skillet, a whisk, and, optionally, a grill pan (or frying pan as a more commonplace substitute).

And as a little cherry on top, the whole recipe takes only 34 minutes including cook time. After less than a podcast episode of whisking, mixing, and cooking, your amazing vegan lobster roll dish will be ready, and you’ll feel like a vegan pro chef.

Vegan lobster bisque

If you want a vegan lobster bisque to bring to your next potluck meal or barbeque, EatDrinkShrink has you covered. The ingredients list is a little longer this time around, but it’ll still mostly be items that you already have, especially if you’ve already been vegan for a little bit.

Just like with our last delicious vegan lobster dish, you’ll want hearts of palm as your main lobster substitute. In addition, you’ll need some household staples like almond milk, shallots, carrots, celery, garlic, and some simple spices.

Despite the long list of ingredients, this is actually one of the simplest recipes out there. All you need to do is boil some seaweed, throw in some other ingredients like veggies, tomato paste, and white wine, and you’re pretty much done!

Seaweed is probably the only ingredient you don’t already have, but don’t worry: you can easily find seaweed granules at vegan-friendly food vendors.

Of course, you can follow our link to the full recipe for more details. This vegan lobster bisque is a great way to impress your friends and spread the vegan love! Don’t worry, we won’t tell them how easy this recipe actually is.

What are the benefits of veganism?

The health benefits of a vegan diet are pretty clear at this point. A vegan diet will help you reduce the chance of heart disease, certain types of cancers, and help you manage diabetes. On top of that, leafy greens like spinach are rich in vitamins that are great for your skin, so you’ll feel good and look good.

And don’t let the carnivores fool you, you don’t require animal proteins to get some serious gains. Just ask the people at Great Vegan Athletes. If you’re not convinced, tell that to these vegan powerlifters.

Of course, eating potato chips and processed candy all day would still make you technically vegan, but technically correct is not the best kind of correct in this case. Just remember that you do still need to think about your diet if you want to live a healthy lifestyle.

How can being a vegan help the planet?

Just like with the health benefits, the environmental benefits of going vegan are not a big secret. Environment Buddy released a list of 10 reasons to go vegan, and it includes a range of motives from water conservation to reduced energy use to cleaner air.

You don’t have to be an animal lover to find a reason to go vegan. And if someone ever tells you that soy farming wastes water, remind them that dairy cows consume more soy than humans.

I love Old Bay, is that vegan?

Yes!

You won’t have to give up your favorite spice when you make the transition to a vegan lifestyle. With an ingredient list that’s just salt, celery seed, spices such as red pepper and black pepper, and paprika, Old Bay spice is definitely vegan.

If you don’t trust big-corporation manufacturers (I wouldn’t blame you), you can make a viable substitute at home.

Simply go to your favorite healthy food store or spice shop, get the staples, and mix everything together in whatever ratio suits your taste buds. That way you have complete control over the blending process and you can adjust the seasoning flavor to your own preferences.

Of course, we understand that not everybody has the time for spice science, nor wants to invest in mortars and pestles. For most vegans, plain old packaged Old Bay will certainly make the cut.

Conclusion

Vegan lobster is legit, and if you’re looking to eliminate seafood and do your part to save the ocean world, there’s plenty of (fake) fish left on the menu.

If you’re not sure where to start, here are some of the best vegan lobster brands, and some incredible recipes. Grab your heart of palm and satisfy that lobster roll craving!