Transforming Fish Waste into High-value Resources: A Sustainable Approach to Circular Bioeconomy

The growing global population drives urbanization, industrial growth, increased fishing, and aquaculture production. This will lead to significant waste generation, impacting the environment profoundly. Approximately two-thirds of the total fish are discarded as waste, presenting substantial financial and environmental challenges. To safeguard the environment in the long run, we must address the unique waste production processes. The recycling and disposal of these wastes have become critical issues. Utilizing underutilized or discarded marine material can be a sustainable approach to achieving a circular bioeconomy, especially as the circular economy gains increasing attention by producing high-value materials. This article explores the management of fish waste and the conversion of proteins released by fish into valuable products. It provides a comprehensive analysis of various high-value substances derived from fish by-products, such as collagen, enzymes, and bioactive peptides, and their potential applications in multiple industries. Fish waste is becoming increasingly popular as a novel raw material for synthesizing biopolymers with substantial economic and environmental benefits, primarily in the food packaging industry. Furthermore, addressing the complex task of increasing agricultural yields involves managing water and artificial fertilizers, assessing land suitability for farming, optimizing production methods, and implementing effective fisheries and aquaculture waste management procedures in response to climate change. Traditional methods are continuously reassessed in the quest for process intensification and sustainable production techniques, due to challenges in recovering intracellular bioactive compounds, selectivity issues, and energy requirements. However, within the framework of "zero waste" and "biorefinery for high-value compounds," these innovative approaches present numerous opportunities for technological advancement. Alongside detailing these efforts, this article highlights the significant untapped potential in this field. This review paper provides an overview of the latest developments in the process of turning fish waste into biopolymers for use in food packaging. The problems with trash from the fishing business, fish bycatch, and the possibility of recycling. The recent developments in the value-adding of fish industry waste for the production of biopolymers for use in food packaging are compiled in this review.