Recent predictions state that fisheries global production will reach 194 million tonnes by 2026. Worldwide almost 20 million tonnes of raw material are mainly used for the production of fishmeal and fish oil. One of the key points that will make grow the fish industry circular economy, is the cost-effective treatment of residual bio-based fish side-streams to extract bioactive compounds for high-value applications. At this point, the EcoeFISHent project comes into play to promote a demonstrable and replicable cluster implementing systemic solutions through multilevel circular value chains for eco-efficient valorization of fishing and fish industries side- streams.

AIMPLAS, the plastics technology center, takes part in this European project and is in charge of the development of a barrier coating for food packaging from fish gelatine and cosmetic packaging from fishing nets. In line with the European Strategy for Bioplastics in a Circular Economy, EcoeFISHent will develop, starting for gelatine extracted from Fish Processing Side-streams, a gas barrier biopolymer coating for packaging of oxidation-sensitive food (e.g., meat, fish, cheese, etc.) to substitute conventionally used fossil barrier polymers, maintaining the desired functionality, sustainability, and nonharmful utility. The process will be scaled up to industrial pilot production to provide compostable packaging for fish food.

In addition, EcoeFISHent will provide a circular feasible economic and environmental solution for recycling fish nets coming from fishing and aquaculture industry. The polyethylene recovered by fishing nets will be employed by AIMPLAS to produce cosmetic packaging by extrusion and further injection moulding and lamination processing.

As a whole, EcoeFISHent pre-processing pilot unit will enable the transformation of fish by-products into final high-added value products such as food supplements, cosmetics, bio-based polymers. The project has implemented six multilevel and synergic circular value chains interconnecting blue and green economies to reconcile human industrial and economic activities with marine ecosystems and marine protected areas.

Thanks to the support of international research centers, innovative technologies and processes it will create sustainable products in the cosmetics, nutraceuticals and packaging sectors. Furthermore, EcoeFISHent will set up a program for the protection of the marine environment, through the collection, recovery and recycling of abandoned fishing nets and the implementation of a sustainable fishing program.

34 partners from 7 different countries participate in this initiative coordinated by FILSE spa, the Financial body for Economic Development of the Ligurian regional administration, and funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement ID 101036428.