Mermaids and Seafood

[Seatan]

i do think mers would eat some meat, because though you can get everything you need from veggies, you have to search carefully for the RIGHT veggies, which is probably why humans are omnivorous-- we did not always have the luxury of carefully examining a dozen items to make sure we would get our proper protein, B12, etc. scavengers just aren't that lucky!

When I was on a clean, veggie diet I got bruises all over my legs because I wasn't eating enough variety for my body to get its nutrients (I was eating mostly granola and some fruit because I am too lazy to cook). When I eat meat I may not be putting the healthiest stuff in my body, but I can count in never getting those bruises. Petsonally i am just too lazy to think that much about what i should eat, so i stick with a mix of everything. (Note that I'm Not saying that this is best just that I'm really lazy!!!)

On that line of thinking, Whether or not mers are vegetarians (if their systems are like ours) might have to do with the kinds of plants that grow in the area where they are from and if their bodies can easily get what they need from those plants without having a "grocery store" setting. Overall though, I am with Pearlie--as long as I got me some cake, I'm good.

[Jeblily]

To be fair if you look at the fluke or "caudal fin" of most mermaids it indicates a predatory animal... So they would eat fish. Most marine mammals are omnivores as well, or carnivores. The only herbivore I know of is the manatee.
So mers I guess it all comes down to your favorite tail type, you could have a wave mono fin and be a vegetarian, or you could have a merbella angler tale and we all know what you eat!!!!!! (She-creature movie reference)

As far as eating in real life I respect vegetarians and vegans but personally I eat fish and support seafood eaters, as long as the animals quality of life is upheld and you don't over-fish!

[Mermaid Kalliope]

I never said I agree with my list that I posted, just that is what I've been told over the years. Every one I meet seems to have this solid set in stone "I know what's best for our bodies" idea.

Basically, I know what my body does and doesn't like, and, actually, on the subject of teeth, my canines are the largest ones in my mouth. My teeth don't do well chewing or grinding things like granola and nuts. It's very uncomfortable for me. Even carrots can be tiring. :-/ Also, I have a weird milk intolerance. O.o A glass won't bother me and if it is in tea or as ice cream, it won't, either, but if it is in coffee and sometimes whipped cream it causes a small disturbance. It's really weird. It only sometimes is an intolerance.

What about krill? Would there be baleen toothed mers? And as for the caudal fin/fluke, what if it is based off a fish? Not a mammal? Like my fluke is based on the Naso Tang. I like to think my mer is half fish half mammal, more leaning towards mammal on the breathing and stuff. (The fishy thing mainly being the scales and colour) So what about those? I still just love crabs, shrimp, lobster and squid with the occasional small fish (perch) or bottom dweller (halibut)... and maybe eel. (I had it once and it was yummy, had it again and it was gross.)

[SeaGlass Siren]

What about jelly fish ? We don't have teeth xD

[Shaylee Moon]

I think its probably a lot like humans where they have a variety of things they could it and they know what they like and what they don't. The same way some people might like baked goods, others don't so its probably a lot like that where some mers might love fish and whatnot but others might simply not like the taste of it and just wont eat it and will probably get those nutrients from other sources.

[SeaSister]

@Kailani ROFL! Baleen mers. Just imagining what that would look like made me crack up. XD

[Mermaid Kalliope]

Seasister- I know, right?! It's a legitimate curiosity! We're all talking about teeth and fish eating and how most mammals are carnivorous and I was wait... even baleen... oh! krill. Why can't mers eat krill? Baleen toothed mers! :-D Or the jellyfish eaters. Would they have those hooked throats like turtles?

[Jeblily]

http://www.peta.org/blog/topless-mermaid-seattle-cops/ A mer was protesting at a fish market....
I do have to say I HATE fishing with hooks. I was hooked in the lip once, not pleasant.

[MermanZen]

I love seafood if all I could eat is seafood id be in heaven

[Mermaid Ellowyn]

I dislike seafood, and my whole family doesn't eat it. It grosses me out a bit actually. To me, I think mermaids would be diverse in their eating habits, just like humans are. I suppose I would be a plant-based only mer if I had to live in the oceans for forever! Luckily I do not, and I can eat grilled cheese and burritos and cupcakes and fruits and a whole variety of yummy things

[MysticMerman]

Looking from a scientific point of view, and not magic or myth... Merpeople would be omnivorous with fish and possibly some marine mammals as the staple of the diet. Much like an orca. If you look at the sea ape theory (basically stating that prehistoric ancestors split in to two groups one advanced in living farther from the ocean. The other group stayed near the ocean an relied on the ocean for food, and over time the two groups adapted differently. The land based group stood taller, used fire, and essentially became what we are today. The group that stayed with the ocean adapted to ocean life. Holding their breath for long periods of time, eating raw fish, finger and hand webbing, etc... Humans aren't the only species this applies to too! The ancestors of many porpoises were at one time land animals who's feet eventually became fins. And a more modern example we can observe this process happening with is the polar bear! Polar bears were at some pony not too long ago brown bears that got divided due to environmental factors. So looking at that theory and the evidence supporting it, fish would be a huge part of the merpeople diet.

[MysticMerman]

By much like an orca, I meant the eating of some marine mammals btw. Not that they're omnivores. Lol

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I love seafood too!

What I don't get is, every movie and tv shows I've seen, the mer people eat their food cooked. Wouldn't it make more sense to eat it raw? They don't like fire or things that can dry them out, so why would one plop out of the ocean to cook the food if they're so afraid of fire? And if they do have to cook it, what other ways is there besides undersea hot vents?

[SeaGlass Siren]

underwater volcanoes :3

[SeaGlass Siren]

or using an electric eel to zap their food lol!!!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Hahaha! They must thread the food on sticks, much like how ppl toast marshmallows at campfires!

[Ariadne]

Well this mer for one will eat anything that doesn't eat me first...pretty sure that makes me "well-rounded" in more ways than one! lol And wasn't there mention of cake upthread? (swims off in search of cake)

[Taz]

If you truly care about the ocean, I would not recommend eating ANY seafood. It is being over harvested and disregarded left right and centre.

But if you just can't shake the habit, then please please PLEASE do not just eat any ol' seafood. Educate yourself on the issues and make better choices for the health of the oceans.
If you are still eating tiger prawn, then you have some reading to do.

Its getting easier and easier to make informed choices, here are a few places to start:
http://www.oceanwise.ca (OceanWise also has an app which allows you to search for seafood on the go, as well as searching for restaurants and supermarkets nearby that they are partnered up with)
http://www.seafoodwatch.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
http://www.seachoice.org

[SeaGlass Siren]

Taz the point of this thread was to question "if mermaids were real what WOULD they eat."

Theres a bunch of threads with detailed discussions about sustainable eating. This thread isn't one of them :|

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Sea slug chips! Or fries as you Americans like to call them! With a delicious sauce of fish slime... Mmmm!