Developments and Trends in Fisheries Processing: Value-Added Product Development and Total Resource Utilization

Changing concepts in fishery science increasingly are recognizing depletion of traditional stocks, utilization of alternate(non-traditional) species, demand for high quality products, and a total resource utilization approach. Innovative practices are occurring in fisheries processing wherein solid and liquid discharges are no longer treated as 'waste,' but rather as valuable feedstocks for recovery of a variety of value-added ('value enhanced') by-products. Among these are protein hydrolysates, soluble proteins and amino acids, proteolytic enzymes, flavor and flavor extracts, pigments, and biopolymers such as chitosan. Properties and applications of this deacetylated derivative of chitin are noted. Crustacean processing by-products are discussed in terms of their serving as materials for generation of natural flavors and flavor extracts, and products such as fish sauces using contemporary enzymatic techniques. Various food and feed applications of fisheries processing by-products are illustrated with increased usage seen in formulated diets for an expanding aquaculture market. Examples are given of aquaculture becoming increasingly significant in global fisheries resource projections. Critical issues in the international seafood industry Include those of seafood quality, processing quality assurance (HACCP), and recognition of the nutritional and health-related properties of fisheries products. A variety of current seafood processing research is discussed, including that of alternate fish species for surimi manufacture and formulation of value-added seafood products from crawfish and blue crab processing operations. Increasing emphasis is being placed on international aspects of global fisheries and the role of aquaculture in such considerations. Coupled with the need for the aquatic food industry to develop innovative seafood products for the 21st century is that of total resource utilization. Contemporary approaches in seafood processing recognize the need to discard the traditional concept of processing 'waste' and adapt a more realistic, and economically sound, approach of usable by-products for food and feed application. For example, in a period of declining natural fishery resources it is no longer feasible to discard fish frames following fillet removal when a significant amount of residual valuable flesh is present that can be readily recovered and properly utilized in a variety of mince-based formulated seafood products.