This is the question behind a research project that brings together technological innovation, environmental sustainability and circular bioeconomy. A project developed by ENEA in collaboration with the University of Camerino and other scientific partners, with a clear objective: extracting vitamin D and Omega-3 fatty acids from blue fish processing waste, such as sardines and mackerel.

A value chain rich in hidden potential

In the fishing and fish-processing sector, a significant portion of biomass never reaches the food market. Heads, viscera, skin and non-marketable fractions are often discarded, despite being rich in high-value bioactive compounds. This research turns that perspective upside down: waste is no longer something to dispose of, but a raw material for new nutraceutical products.

Green technology at the core of innovation

At the core of the innovation lies the use of supercritical carbon dioxide, a “green” extraction technology that allows valuable molecules to be obtained without chemical solvents. The result is a clean, efficient and scalable process, first validated at laboratory scale and then tested in a pilot plant, demonstrating real industrial potential.

Health, sustainability and impact

The relevance of this research goes beyond technology. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in bone health and immune function, yet deficiencies affect a large share of the European population. At the same time, reducing waste in the fish value chain means lowering environmental impact while creating new economic opportunities across the production system.

A necessary shift in perspective

This project is a clear example of applied bioeconomy: research and innovation working hand in hand with sustainability to generate concrete, replicable solutions rooted in real industrial processes.

Looking at fish waste through a different lens opens up new possibilities — not only for health and nutrition, but also for rethinking how we use marine resources. It is in this shift of perspective that some of the most promising answers to today’s environmental and social challenges can be found.

👉 Source: if you would like to explore this topic further, click here.

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A 2025 study explores exactly this: how regenerative principles can be applied to aquatic production systems to recover value from biological residues, integrating technologies, policy frameworks, and new value-chain models.

🔍 Key Insights from the Study

Drawing on global case studies and innovations developed between 2020 and 2025, the research shows that we are entering a new phase of the blue economy:

1. Enormous untapped potential

Many by-products contain valuable technical properties:

• scales are rich in collagen;
• viscera and heads contain functional proteins;
• crustacean shells can be transformed into chitin and chitosan;
• processing water can be valorized through advanced filtration or fermentation.

Yet in much of the world, these materials are underutilized or discarded.

2. Technologies driving the transition

Key enabling processes include:

• fermentation;
• anaerobic digestion;
• enzymatic hydrolysis;
• advanced thermal treatments.

In parallel, digital technologies – sensors, smart monitoring, traceability systems, IoT – are improving efficiency, safety, and transparency along supply chains.

3. Environmental benefits

A regenerative approach leads to:

• reduced pollution;
• lower emissions;
• better wastewater management;
• reduced pressure on natural ecosystems.

A shift that aligns closely with the 100% Fish philosophy: use everything, waste nothing.

⚠️ Barriers to wider adoption

Despite progress, large-scale adoption remains limited due to:

• insufficient processing infrastructure;
• fragmented or inconsistent regulations;
• limited technical expertise;
• low market confidence in bio-based products;
• difficult access to financing—especially in low-resource settings.

Many communities still operate under traditional linear models: catch → process → discard. Moving to a circular model requires time, investment, and institutional coordination.

🌍 A multi-level transformation is needed

The study concludes that real change depends on three parallel shifts:

1. Technological readiness – ensuring that advanced processing technologies are accessible even to small and medium operators.
2. Institutional reform – coherent policies, incentives, and regulatory clarity supporting circular use of by-products.
3. Stakeholder engagement – collaboration between industry, research, institutions, communities, and consumers.

Recommendations include decentralizing processing, strengthening training and capacity building, and fostering transparency to build trust in recycled bio-based products.

👉 Source. If you would like to explore this topic further, you can read the full study here: “Regenerative Use of Biological Residues in Aquatic Production Systems”, Multidisciplinary Futuristic Development Journal, 2025

🔵 Why this matters for Blue5Helix

This study speaks directly to the mission of our network and platform: innovation, sustainability, and the blue economy. It shows that the shift from “waste” to “resource” is not only possible but it is already happening globally. Iceland, Scotland, Finland, Canada, Bangladesh, and many others are advancing circular marine value chains.

What about us?  The Mediterranean can play a central role in this transition!

💬 Which marine by-products could be valorized in our region?
💬 What technologies or collaborations can we activate within the Blue5Helix community?

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In Brazil, a team of researchers and doctors has found a surprising way to treat burns: using tilapia skin as a natural dressing. Rich in collagen and resistant to infection, fish skin speeds up healing and reduces pain – turning waste into a biotechnological resource.

This Gigadgets video above shows how research and sustainability can meet in practice: a perfect example of circular innovation born from the sea.

In the Mediterranean, projects like Highgel are exploring the same path giving new life to fishery by-products to build a more regenerative and human future.

👉 Watch the video, share your thoughts, and tell us: what other applications can you imagine for the “skin of the sea”?

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In the heart of the Mediterranean, between Mazara del Vallo and biotechnology research laboratories, a vision is taking shape – one that could transform the relationship between humans and the sea: turning fishery by‑products into high‑value resources.

The red shrimp of Mazara, renowned worldwide for the quality of its meat, generates tons of waste every year – heads, shells, exoskeletons. But what was once considered waste is now becoming raw material for a sustainable future.

From this intuition, Highgel was born: the natural evolution of the work begun with Bythos.

Co‑funded by the Interreg VI‑A Italy–Malta Programme, Highgel develops innovative biotechnological solutions from red shrimp and fish by‑products:

🔹 biomedical hydrogels and wound‑healing devices
🔹 high‑protein feed for aquaculture and livestock
🔹 new pathways for the full valorisation of marine biomass

The project is inspired by the “100% Fish Movement”, promoted by organizations such as Ocean Cluster Iceland, which has long demonstrated how every part of the fish can create economic, environmental, and social value.

Highgel embraces this shared vision and adapts it to the Mediterranean context – combining scientific innovation, sustainability, and territorial identity to build a concrete model of circular blue bioeconomy.

“Every by‑product holds unexplored potential. It’s up to us to give it shape”.

💬 Do you want to contribute or learn more? Comment below or contact the Highgel team at
📩 highgelprojectmanager@gmail.com

📲 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin to stay updated on the project and join the conversation.

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It conducts evidence-based research, shedding light on the benefits of a circular economy. Its work extends beyond theory, aiming to address pressing global issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss. The foundation delves into opportunities across diverse stakeholders and sectors, showcasing real-world examples of circular economy principles in action.

As part of their commitment to education and empowerment, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation provides formal learning opportunities through circular economy courses. Additionally, they create valuable resources for teachers and academics, fostering a community of informed individuals who can further drive the circular economy agenda forward.

Recently, the Foundation has developed the Circular Startup Index, a database collecting global innovators and entrepreneurs who are actively putting circular economy principles into practice. Each startup featured in the index is carefully selected to exemplify one or more key aspects of the circular economy.

Find out more at their website: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/resources/business/circular-startup-index.

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It developed a mobile Fish Residue Automated Processing (FRAP) unit capable of integrating an innovative, biotechnology-based circular economy supply chain using side streams from the fish processing industry in Sicily and Malta.

The FRAP unit uses fresh fish residues to create a stable product that can be stored at room temperature for weeks until ready for further processing, thus preventing the need for costly refrigeration or disposal.

This innovative portable unit is particularly suitable for smaller islands, small ports, and micro-small enterprises, where the amount of fish residue produced is not sufficient to justify a large investment in industrial fish flour and oil transformation facilities.

The FRAP unit, built by the University of Palermo, was piloted on the island of Lipari this year at the Bythos laboratory, where a fish-residue collection system was designed and tested, involving local fish processing companies.  The extraction protocols developed by the Bythos Project were then tested on the FRAP pre-treated liquid to produce high-added-value products.

The FRAP was moved to Malta for a demonstration event aimed at addressing the problem of jellyfish proliferation during the spring and summer months. The FRAP jellyfish liquid is rich in protein and collagen and has the potential for various medical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and/or feed applications.

Learn more on our Facebook and Instagram pages.

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Read this article for more details: https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/researchers-want-grind-jellyfish-protein-shakes-used-medicine.1063629?fbclid=IwAR36G-_2GdkAUdx7OPiXv9rzlKdfyQZ3c-9fbDni0iboReeUJkJLWynpraY

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Fish processing generates a significant amount of waste, including fish heads, scales, skins, and bones, which make up about 75% of the whole organism. Every year in the Mediterranean sea, a great amount of this waste is discarded, generating at the same time loss of profit and loss of ecological sustainability. However, within this waste, a treasure trove of bioactive compounds lies waiting to be unlocked.

Fish waste contains a variety of bioactive compounds with proven health benefits. These include collagen, omega-3 fatty acids, peptides, antioxidant compounds, and chitin. Collagen, for instance, is renowned for its skin and joint health benefits, while omega-3 fatty acids are known to support cardiovascular health. These compounds are perfect candidates for nutraceutical products, such as dietary supplements and functional foods.

Reusing fishing waste provides a win-win situation for nutraceutical companies. Firstly, it promotes environmental sustainability by reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of the fishing industry. Secondly, it offers economic advantages. Fishing waste is often available at a lower cost, as it is typically considered a waste product. This can significantly reduce production costs for nutraceutical companies and at the same time generate economic benefits for fishing companies, that every year incur significant expenses to stock and dispose of a huge amount of such waste.

By incorporating fish-derived nutraceutical ingredients, companies can diversify their product portfolios. They can create new supplements or fortified foods with distinct health benefits. This approach caters to a broader consumer base, providing unique solutions to various health concerns.

The market is shifting towards environmentally friendly and sustainable products. Reusing fishing waste aligns with these trends and can make products more appealing to eco-conscious consumers. Furthermore, it enhances a company’s brand reputation and corporate social responsibility image.

Reusing fishing waste in the nutraceutical industry is a prime example of how innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand. The utilization of bioactive compounds from fish waste not only reduces environmental impact but also opens up new opportunities for product development and market growth. This approach benefits both the industry and consumers by creating healthier, sustainable, and cost-effective nutraceutical products.

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