Over the years there has been a growing interest in minimizing food waste throughout marine value chains. The most common strategies for improving the use of fish by-products include the production of animal feed, biofuel, biogas, fertilizers, and fish silage. Although fish by-products may not be visually appealing, they are full of valuable nutrients and, as such, can have multiple applications. This is due to their high composition of bioactive compounds and their high nutritional and therapeutic value, which provide opportunities to improve human well-being. These include proteins, minerals, essential amino acids, vitamins, along with essential fats such as omega-3, which is a long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA).

Innovations in the field of Blue Biotechnology allow marine resources to be transformed into goods and services for the life sciences industries: food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals.

In the food industry, fish protein concentrates (FPCs) can be incorporated into fish sausages, pâtés, cakes, fishbone snacks, pasta, soups, and sauces. Another type of byproduct, fish gelatin, is an odorless and tasteless thickening agent used in both savory and pastry cooking. Flour made from fish scraps is commonly used in animal feed and has also been tested as an additive to wheat flour to increase its protein and mineral content in breads and pasta. Omega-3 is also included in foods for human consumption, such as margarines, baked goods, or dietary supplements.

Regarding the cosmetics industry, fish byproducts, such as guanidine (extracted from fish scales), can be found in lipsticks, eyeshadows, facial cleansers, or nail polishes. Fish collagen is also used to keep the intercellular layers of the skin hydrated and wrinkle-free.

Beyond these classic uses, fish by-products are gaining increasing attention for pharmaceutical applications, as they offer a significant source of high-value biocompounds due to their high content of collagen, enzymes, peptides, PUFAs, and minerals. For example, chitin and its derivative chitosan are potential sources of antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant substances. Inorganic calcium can also be extracted from fish bones and is used as a dietary supplement and bone substitute for medical applications.

At B2E CoLAB, we are committed to expanding the use of marine by-products, learning from Norway and Iceland, which are leaders in maximizing the value of each fish. Through the Roadmap4MarineCoproducts project, we will identify the best ideas and business practices for the circular economy, also in Portugal.