NEW CIRCULAR ECONOMY MODELS FOR THE ADVANCED VALORIZATION OF BY-PRODUCTS AND DERIVATIVE PRODUCTS FROM AQUATIC ANIMALS (ACUALAR)

Waste, by-products, derivative products, or discards (without commercial exploitation) from aquatic animals (fish, mollusks, among others) constitute a significant portion of the total volume from extractive fishing and aquaculture production (estimated to be more than 50% of the total volume). These raw materials – which are subject to mandatory environmental management – are often not being used to develop new products through circular economy models, or, in the best cases, are being used to create low-value-added products (e.g., fishmeal), which entail high production costs, environmental impact, and degradation of the raw material’s properties (proteins, etc.) due to processing (cooking, etc.).

Therefore, the main goal of the project is the advanced valorization of by-products, derivative products, and discards from aquatic animals (and eventually from other marine organisms) through various technologies, such as silage in its different forms (chemical, biological, and enzymatic), as well as other methods that enable the extraction of high-market-value bioactive compounds.

Thus, the objective is to identify the most suitable valorization method, from both the final commercial market perspective and in terms of scientific, economic, and technological viability, for all or part of the by-products, derivative products, and discards generated by companies (or business groups), providing them with a profitable circular economy model as an alternative to other current disposal methods, such as selling to fishmeal plants—a process that is more polluting and degrades the proteins and initial nutritional properties.

Finally, the project will result in a portfolio of formulations and process best practices to obtain high-nutritional-value oils and proteins, bioactive compounds, and substances that can be adapted to the circumstances of the different sandach generators and the specific conditions of their by-products, discards, or waste.