Turning Seafood Waste into Opportunity for a Sustainable Blue Economy

About 70% of seafood goes to waste in processing. As the global demand for seafood continues to rise, so does the waste generated across its supply chain, from harvesting to processing. Much of this waste remains unused despite its potential value. In this light, the industry explores circular economy solutions to transform waste into resources, reduce environmental pressure, and build a more sustainable and inclusive blue economy.

The Growing Challenge of Seafood Waste

In 2020, global fish production reached 214 million tons. However, as production increases, so does seafood waste. The global seafood industry generates massive volumes of waste each year.

In India, for instance, the fishery industry produced about 576,474 tons of waste in 2015–2016, mostly from prawn processing. Similarly, in Australia, seafood manufacturing produces 50,000 to 100,000 tons of waste annually, costing around 15 million Australian dollars in disposal.

Things like fish heads, bones, skins, shellfish shells, and processing residues often end up in landfills or the ocean. These practices are responsible for heavy pollution, ocean acidification, and greenhouse gas emissions, harming people and the planet alike.

Reshaping Seafood Waste into Circular Solutions

Innovations worldwide are reshaping how seafood waste is treated. With circularity in mind, seafood waste can become food ingredients, cosmetics, biodegradable packaging, and more.

Science and technologies such as enzymatic hydrolysis, fermentation, and bioactive compound recovery are turning seafood waste into biomaterials.For example, scientists are developing biodegradable films as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics using biopolymers extracted from seafood waste, such as chitin and chitosan from shrimp shells.

Meanwhile, fish-processing by-products are transformed into biofertilizers through anaerobic digestion, composting, or aquaponics systems. Small-scale producers and coastal communities are increasingly reusing fish, shell by-products, and other forms of seafood waste into fishmeal, organic fertilizer, and animal feed.

Empowering Communities

These innovations demonstrate that circular solutions are more than about environmental benefits. They also create “new” raw materials, income sources, and opportunities for sustainable growth in the blue economy. Research on bio-circular aquaculture models shows how waste valorization can reduce environmental impact while creating economic value.

In Kenya, for example, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) extracts fish oil from the 150,000 tons of waste generated along Lake Victoria’s processing sites annually. This initiative converts waste into omega-3 supplements and animal feed, reducing pollution while providing new income opportunities.

Collaboration for Sustainable Blue Economy

Beyond science and technology, the shift toward sustainable blue economies relies on collaboration among industry actors, communities, and policymakers. From public-private investments to knowledge exchanges, resource sharing is crucial. After all, “innovation” does not have to come from modern science—it can come from local wisdom and ancient Indigenous knowledge around the world. Furthermore, supporting small-scale fishers and farmers with improved social protection would encourage widespread implementation of circular innovations.

Ultimately, the industry has many aspects to address to become sustainable, from boat fuel to fishing method to waste management. Still, there is hope and potential that the seafood industry can be a part of a circular and inclusive blue economy that benefits both marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

Editor: Nazalea Kusuma

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