Transforming Fish Waste into Opportunities
Maria Coelho, Coordinator of B2E CoLAB, in Interview with Visão Magazine
Maria Coelho, coordinator of B2E – Blue Bioeconomy CoLAB, spoke to Visão magazine about the challenges and opportunities linked to the blue economy, with a particular focus on the valorisation of fish by-products. In the interview, conducted by journalist Luís Ribeiro, Maria Coelho introduced the Fish Matter project, an innovative platform aimed at transforming fish waste into high-value products.
Every year, millions of tonnes of fish are wasted globally, and Portugal, one of the largest consumers of fish per capita, is among the countries where this problem is particularly relevant. The canning industry, salted cod processing, and fish processors are responsible for generating large amounts of by-products, such as viscera, bones, skins, and scales, which could be repurposed instead of being discarded.
The Fish Matter project aims to create a network connecting fish waste producers and companies with the technology to transform these by-products into valuable raw materials. Maria Coelho explains that products such as mobile phone cases made from cod skin, collagen for cosmetics, or bioplastics derived from crustacean shells are just some examples illustrating the potential of a more circular and sustainable economy.
In the interview, the B2E CoLAB coordinator also highlighted Iceland’s example, where nearly 100% of fish by-products are reused, and noted that, in Portugal, there are already initiatives that use these by-products to produce biodiesel and high-quality collagen.
The Fish Matter platform, set to launch in 2025, will use artificial intelligence algorithms to facilitate partnerships between stakeholders, thus promoting the greater valorisation of fish by-products.
Furthermore, Maria Coelho discussed the growing role of aquaculture, stressing the need for technological innovation and overcoming the stigma associated with the practice, which is essential to ensuring the sustainability of fish production.
The full interview with Visão magazine can be read here:
