UK seafood body launches new "Seagan" campaign

The campaign, Think Seagan, showcases the nutritional and health benefits of a plant-based diet supplemented by fish.

Marcus Coleman, chief executive of Seafish, explains: "The health benefits of eating seafood are well documented and coupled with the benefits of a plant-based diet, ‘seaganism' presents a sustainable, tasty and flexible diet for people of all ages and stages of life.

Dietitian and nutrition consultant Juliette Kellow added: "Many of us are keen to follow a more plant-based or even a fully vegan diet but love the idea of still eating fish. The great news is that combining the two incorporates key elements of current UK government guidelines for a healthy diet.

"Government advice recommends that at least two-thirds of what we eat should be based on plant foods. But it also recommends that we consume two portions of fish each week, one of which should be an oily fish such as mackerel, sardines or herring. This is in part because they are full of essential omega-3 fatty acids, which help the heart to work normally and maintain normal blood pressure and blood triglyceride levels. One of the omega-3 fats found naturally in fish (DHA) is also important for maintaining normal brain function and vision.

"Enjoying a diet that incorporates seafood at least twice a week provides the missing link in purely plant-based diets to help ensure diets are nutritionally balanced as well as tasty."

Seafish offer a variety of materials suggesting new and innovative ways to enjoy a fish and plant-based diet, including: a ‘starter' kit, 28-day meal plan, recipes and how-to videos and a store cupboard guide to vegan essentials. All are available on the Seafish UK website.

The search is on for the 2019 UK Young Seafood Chef of the Year

The Idle Rocks named as Seafood Restaurant of the Year 2018