Fish Matter was designed with the aim of making use of by-products generated by the fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries, such as heads, bones, skins, viscera, or shells, which are traditionally discarded. It is estimated that globally there are more than ten million tons of this waste annually, even when it is of commercial quality.

The platform aims to create a collaborative network connecting the generators of these by-products (canning industries, fish processors, among others), research entities, technology suppliers, and potential processors interested in transforming them into value-added raw materials.

In addition to functioning as a marketplace for cooperation, Fish Matter will provide a specialized database with technical information: types and quantities of available co-products, recovery technologies, scientific studies, use cases, and business opportunities.

The potential areas of recovery are diverse, ranging from the food and nutraceutical, cosmetics, chemical, and biomedical industries to applications in bioplastics, functional materials, or other innovative products.

Fish Matter is part of the Blue Bioeconomy Pact (PBA), a Mobilizing Agenda funded by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). The project involves several institutions and research centers as partners: CIIMAR – Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research, IPMA – Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere, ISEP – Porto Higher Institute of Engineering, the University of Aveiro, and the University of Minho.

The presentation of the project to the Expo Fish Portugal jury is scheduled for December 10, at 10:00 a.m., at the Ílhavo Maritime Museum, with the announcement of the winners scheduled for 2:45 p.m.