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Insect production Distances between harvesting, processing and markets
as well as species diversity are among other major issues
A more recent research project is also investigating the use to overcome in making more of undervalued species and
of seafood waste - and possibly the biomass of invasive carp processing waste. Volatility within the fishing sector itself
species being culled from inland waterways - to feed Black also plays a role, with short seasons for harvesting and limited
Soldier Fly larvae, which will then be dried and used as an regional infrastructure for processing and storage.
aquafeed supplement. Insects fed on fish waste and then
incorporated into barramundi and marron feed diets have There are additional hurdles for any product targeting human
shown some positive results. consumption, including the need to ensure the “waste” is
treated as a food product with appropriate handling from the
point of harvest. The process is easier in vertically integrated
companies that deal with their product from harvest to
market in fragmented supply chains. Once “waste” moves
beyond the first point of processing, it becomes more difficult
to ensure that appropriate handling, food safety and cold
chain management have been applied.

Additionally, it can be difficult for smaller fishers or seafood
processors to initiate the changes needed to secure
finance and to develop feasible marketing and distribution
requirements.
Credit: Luke Wheat
In summary, even when new processes are successfully
Black solder fly larvae cultured on finfish waste. developed or adapted for a specific species, and proof-
of-concept is provided, success depends on industry
Challenges which need to be commitment to harvest the species, and a whole-of-supply-
addressed chain commitment, including logistics, distribution and
marketing channels. However, it seems likely that emerging
commercial and social imperatives to reduce waste as part of
Despite good outcomes from the product development phase sustainable production processes and consumption processes,
of the trials, the research identified practical and cultural and development of circular economies, will continue to
barriers that limit the commercialisation of new products and drive both government policy and industry investment to
markets from Australian seafood raw material. draw more value from every part of the seafood harvested.

Maintaining a consistent, commercially viable supply of
quality raw material is one of the greatest barriers to
commercial success. Australia’s fisheries are rich in diversity,
with more than 300 wild species caught commercially, but the
volumes of most species are small, and catches are landed at
many different ports, along the country’s 35 000 kilometre
coastline. Aquaculture production, while more concentrated,
is also quite low in volume when compared to that of other
countries. Fluctuating prices and seasonal conditions may
also lead fishers to chase the highest price available in the
moment, instead of uncertain and potentially lower longer- Credit: Kerri Choo
term returns from new products. Second grade mussels prior to enzyme hydrolysis to produce mussel stock.

Dr Janet Howieson (J.Howieson@curtin.edu.au) is Senior Catherine Norwood (cnorwood@coretext.com.au) is
Lecturer, Curtin University, Australia. She has led a number Senior Editor at Coretext Australia. She edits and writes
of research projects across multiple seafood sectors in across agriculture, science and environmental topics, and
the areas of supply chain monitoring and intervention, has a special interest in all things fisheries and seafood.
value chain analysis and implementation, new product
development, market strategy development, traceability
and provenance and utilisation of waste.

INFOFISH International 3/2020 ● www.infofish.org