According to research nearly 40% of global fish stocks are currently overfished and another 50% harvested to their limit by trawlers raking the oceans to meet the global demand for seafood.
ProVeg says a growing number of plant-based fish products including fish sticks, burgers, filets, canned tuna, smoked salmon, shrimp and calamari are now on sale in supermarkets around the world and can be part of a sustainable and healthy diet.
Jasmijn de Boo, global chief executive of ProVeg International, said: “The seas have been devastated by unrelenting trawler activity, draining the oceans of life and leaving plastic pollution in its place.
“Individuals can help stop, and eventually reverse, this devastation by occasionally replacing the fish on their dinner plate with a plant-based fish alternative. Consumer decisions, like choosing plant-based fish, will accelerate the restoration of the diversity of species that was once found in abundance in the oceans.
“Turning to another damaging industry like aquaculture to reduce the impact of the fishing industry makes little sense. Instead, increasing the consumption of plant-based fish can provide a tangible answer for consumers looking to address the huge challenge facing our seas.”