Abstract:
Massive growth in global fisheries and aquaculture production driven by the development of
fishing technologies and exerted by the world population pressure has resulted in a remarkable increase
in fish waste. The annual average discard amount was estimated to be 7.3 million t for the period from
2016 to 2020. The discard from marine capture commercial fisheries globally is a major concern in terms
of environmental sustainability and cost of disposal. Production of fish meal is considered a practicable
solution for the utilization of these wastes in a sustainable manner with a significant economic return due
to the increasing demand from aquaculture and livestock industries, and occasionally for the utilization
as a high-quality organic fertilizer. Fish meal is enriched with a protein source and could be utilized
as a feed ingredient due to its excellent amino acid profile, excellent digestibility, high palatability, lack
of anti-nutritional factors, and large acceptance by farmers. Due to climate change, habitat degradation
and overfishing, wild fish catches used for fish meal are in decline, thus necessitating the increased
utilization of fish waste to produce fish meal. However, the inclusion of microplastics in the fish meal
and legal and regulatory issues, i.e., intra-species mixing, contamination with endangered fish species,
and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, need to be taken into account while utilizing the fish
waste to produce fish meal. The review suggests that the utilization of fish waste for fish meal is vital
for the future expansion of the fish meal industry, and also for the subsequent expansion of aquaculture
and livestock industries in a sustainable manner while driving a circular economy and ensuring
environmental sustainability.
