The objectives of the project have been fully achieved: (i) to develop a pilot plant for the production of high value-added products from the side streams of freshwater fish marketing; (ii) to validate the integrated technology in an industrial environment; (iii) to demonstrate the functionality of the technology in an industrial environment, by characterising and testing the high value-added products obtained.
This project established a technology to recover by enzymatic hydrolysis from fish waste (skin, bones, scales, fins, head): collagen hydrolysate - low molecular weight peptides (for nutritional supplements and cosmetics) and high molecular weight gelatin-like polypeptides used as plant biostimulants. The non-extracted part is processed into bone meal, which is an essential nutritional supplement when feeding plant meal to predatory fish. The characterisation and testing of the products produced, including specific biological activity, has demonstrated the functionality of the technology in an industrial environment - and thus the achievement of TRL 6 maturity level.