Trends in the Use of Seafood Processing By-products in Europe

Abstract

The aquaculture and marine catch industry, which is mainly situated on the shores and islands throughout Europe, serve as a crucial economic resource to the involved cities, as well as otherwise rural and undeveloped towns. Both aquaculture and capture fisheries generate a significant amount of waste. For Europe, it is vaguely estimated that, for each ton of seafood consumed, an almost equal amount is discarded as waste or as a by-product of non-significant value. In this context, there is a promising potential for adding more value to these fishery wastes. Although it is identified as waste, it is quite rich in valuable minerals, enzymes, pigments, and essential nutrition, which can be widely utilized in several fields, including many industries such as food, agriculture, pharmaceutical, and even aquaculture itself.