Abstract
Fish is one of the key sources of high-quality food and animal protein and other essential nutrients including vitamins, micronutrients. The present study evaluated both the quantitative and qualitative of by-products arising from 14 fish and 2 crustacean farmed species in local fish markets and household levels in Bangladesh. Utilizing waste fish by-products could be a key component of a circular economy policy that minimizes the environmental impact and value chain.
The results showed 9-18% by-products (derived during cleaning process), and 3 to 19% plate waste (derived during consumption) derived from fish species, whereas shrimp and prawn generated 50-66% by-products and of plate waste. Among the by-products, shrimp, and prawn heads (36-38%), and fish viscera (2-11%) contributed the large volume followed by fish gill, fin, and scale.
The estimated by-products from the fish production in 2019 of 14 fish species total 2,81,161-5,65,332 MT on a wet weight (ww) basis, which could contribute 6-13% fish meal development for sustainable aquaculture in Bangladesh, with a value of approximately 32-65 million USD that render to help the economy. Other nutrients from by-products, including as fat, calcium, iron, zinc, and chitosan, can be used for human consumption, livestock feed, and the food industry.
Successful exploitation of fish and crustacean by-products will provide a nutritionally enriched fish by-product meal for future aquaculture growth in a sustainable way. Current fish consumption is estimating the live total weight however filleting and plate waste correction factors should be considered to estimate the per capita fish consumption.