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11 comments
TL;DR: Consumption of meat and fish can be ethical if you shop sustainably
Whilst I'm aware that a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle is not feasible for some people who have different dietary, health or financial circumstances, you can't deny that looking from just an environmental perspective, the meat industry is very damaging.
Looking at the commercial fishing industry alone, [90 per cent of large fish populations] (https://www.peta.org/living/food/eat-fish/?v2=1) have been exterminated in the last 50 years. This harms our ocean ecosystems because the natural food chain is disrupted at a much faster rate than it would be naturally. This also does not consider the pollution caused by commercial fishing, which accounts for the death of other sea animals who consume or get trapped in the fishing nets left behind by large vessels.
However, the perspective that people who consume meat are ignorant of environmental concerns, or morally bad people is a little polarising. [Buying locally sourced meat is just one way to become a little more sustainable] (https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/meat_environment) and many larger supermarkets supply locally sourced meat.
Overall, if we make more conscious choices in regards to our meat consumption, we can make the industry more ethically sustainable.
The most cogent critiques vegans have of meat-eating are really critiques of commercial farming, fishing, etc. rather than meat-eating itself. Meat can be farmed, fished, etc. sustainably.
We've all seen Seaspiracy (at least in the UK where it caused a stir, and some controversy), but the suggestion there was that there is no such thing as sustainable fishing...
How does sustainability affect how ethical killing something that doesn't want to die is?
For the few populations that cannot be vegan, I think there is an argument. But for the vast majority of us, we do not need meat or fish so killing animals for food is not far off needless animal abuse in my opinion
TL;DR: Meat and fish provide essential nutrients
Humans are omnivores by nature and eating meat and fish is part of a [healthy balanced diet] (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324093). Meat provides essential proteins for cell repair and growth. Fish contains important nutrients such as vitamins D, good for bone health and omega oils, essential for brain and eye development. The human body requires the nutrients that meat and fish provide and is perfectly ethical to retrieve them from these sources.
If we can get all our protein needs and nutrients from plants or plant-based foods - that we don't need to eat meat/fish - does that change the ethical calculus?
You can't get Vitamin B12 from plants, though, only supplements. Aside from the fact that supplements can't absorb properly without enough fat, if you aren't getting enough of certain other nutrients in the first place -- which are much less bioavailable in plants than in meat -- then they still won't absorb properly, even with enough fat.
Vitamin B12 is often added to plant based milks. I prefer almond (ethically sourced without contributing to deforestation in key environments)
Yeah there is no denying that but I don't see how factory farming can be seen as ethical in any way. If you are able to (financially etc) they I believe you are morally obliged to seek more ethical sources of these nutrients.
Reffering to nature is a fallacy. Not everything that occurs in nature is 'good' or 'ethical'.
We can get everything we need on a vegan diet (including pregnant women, children and the elderly) according to the various top dietetic societies, you can look up their statements
TL;DR: From an ideological standpoint, fish are a better food than plants
It is important to remember, that from a vegan ideology, the only food that should be eaten is fish, as they are the only organisms that can't feel pain. It has been proven that plants do feel pain when eaten, and mushrooms have neural networks similar to our own in the mycelium, which rules out both of those categories. Then there is meat from animals, which is ruled out for obvious reasons. Leaving fish as the essential vegan food.
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