Sidestreams from seafood processing hold plenty of potential value, but EU regulations need to catch up, say industry advisors.
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Four European advisory councils on fisheries and aquaculture are calling on the EU to enable better use of seafood industry byproducts to support a more sustainable and waste-free economy.
The joint advice, published by the Market Advisory Council on 3 September, argues that by fixing regulatory issues and encouraging innovation, these industries can become more environmentally friendly while also creating new income opportunities.
By taking a "zero waste" approach, in line with the EU's existing Blue BioEconomy goals, the EU could in line with other advanced circular models, such as Iceland’s "100% fish" strategy, where every part of the catch is used, the group says.
The group advice highlights several case studies from the EU's Blue Bioeconomy funding scheme which illustrate regulatory and social barriers to the commercial exploitation of byproducts, including outdated rules around fish byproducts.
The first case study, the BlueBioChain project, focuses on transforming wastewater from food industries and aquaculture farms into valuable products using microalgae, such as cosmeceuticals and aquaculture feed. However, regulatory uncertainty, particularly around safety and quality standards, remains a key challenge, hindering investment and innovation, the group point out.
Another circular initiative, MariGreen, aims to manufacture agricultural fertilisers and biostimulants from residual materials from fish capture and organic aquaculture. However, the group notes, EU regulations currently prevent the use of fish excreta and aquaculture sludge, limiting the adoption of these organic products.
The final case study outlined in the report is the AquaHealth project, working on using bioactive compounds from microalgae microbiomes to improve aquaculture health and reduce environmental impacts. The project’s findings, such as significant antimicrobial properties, demonstrate potential but again face regulatory barriers related to product approvals and standards, the group says.
The councils argue that revising these regulations, and harmonising standards across member states, could unlock the economic potential of seafood byproducts in the EU. They also recommend closer collaboration between policymakers, researchers, and industry stakeholders to overome these barriers.
The group proposes several recommendations to address barriers to commercialisation, including supporting scientific research ensuring the safety and efficacy of using byproducts, and revising regulations, including updating the 2009 Animal Byproduct Regulation to enable the use of fish excreta as fertiliser.
The group also says that more collaboration is needed between the EU Commission, national governments, and industry players to facilitate the transition to sustainable practices.
They also urge the EU to encourage investment in innovation on seafood byproducts through funding for universities, start-ups, and SMEs working on valorisation technologies, and improve coordination between EU services, particularly in the framework of the Farm to Fork Strategy, to ensure policies are adaptable and aligned with industry realities.