Speaker
Description
The growing demand for fish products poses sustainability challenges for the fish supply chain. The European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda promote sustainable blue economy strategies, highlighting the valorisation of fisheries, aquaculture and processing by-products to reduce waste and promote a circular economy.
Fish by-products, such as those from Sicilian bluefin tuna processing, are valuable sources of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid), known for their health benefits. Advanced enrichment techniques such as Short Path Distillation (SPD) extract of PUFA-rich fractions for nutraceutical applications.
In the feed sector, fish by-products have been successfully incorporated into insect diets to improve their nutritional profile. The incorporation of fish by-products into insect diets, as shown in the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), significantly increases the omega-3 PUFA content of the larvae, improving their nutritional value for aquafeed. Additionally, crustacean by-products can be used to develop sustainable food packaging. Protein hydrolysates rich in antioxidants can be incorporated into chitosan-gelatin films, resulting in active packaging with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.
The valorisation of fish by-products in different sectors contributes to the goals of the circular economy by minimising waste and supporting sustainable innovations in nutraceutical, feed and food packaging sectors.
| Presenting author | Rosaria Arena |
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