Making by-catch profitable

The unwanted catches are a mix of species with low or no commercial value, damaged fish, and species without a quota. They can often still be sold, but regulations or market conditions can make them unprofitable or even unusable. In the worst case, unwanted catches are thrown back into the sea.

The first part of the project worked with seven local fishing vessels was a study to record the types and quantities of the discards. The team then went on to look at profitable ways to use the unwanted catches. They developed ready-to-eat foods and studied the use of undersized fish to make food additives and nutraceuticals.