Introduction
Aquaculture and fisheries generate a large volume of by-products that are often discarded or underutilized, despite their high potential for valorisation in areas such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, bioplastics, and animal feed. According to FAO (2022), improving the use of fish side-streams is a key pathway for increasing resource efficiency and sustainability in blue food systems. In the context of a circular bioeconomy, the effective valorisation of marine by-products is both an environmental and economic imperative (European Commission, 2020). Responding to this challenge, Fish Matter was developed as a digital platform to promote the sustainable and innovative use of marine by-products. Financed by Next Generation EU under the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, it aims to connect value chain actors and foster a knowledge-based innovation ecosystem. More information is available at https://fishmatter.pt.
Objectives
Fish Matter aims to:
Material and methods
The platform was co-designed with actors from across the aquaculture and fisheries value chains, integrating feedback from industry, R&D institutions, and public agencies. It includes tools for registering available by-products, sharing technical and market data, and exploring potential applications across sectors such as nutraceuticals, cosmetics, animal feed, and biomaterials. A participatory approach involving surveys, pilot case studies, and stakeholder workshops guided the iterative development between 2023 and 2025.
Results
Initial deployment in Portugal mapped a wide array of underutilized by-products and highlighted the need for digital tools to enhance connectivity, knowledge sharing, and trust. Early adopters will benefit from increased market visibility, and collaborations w ill be initiated through the platform. Stakeholders already registered valued the integrated access to scientific resources and regulatory guidance, recognizing Fish Matter not only as a marketplace, but as a catalyst for systemic innovation. With its integrated AI-powered chatbot, Fish Matter allows users to access tailored guidance, navigate legislation, identify funding opportunities, and explore suitable partners or technologies, significantly improving user experience and decision-making.
Conclusions
Fish Matter exemplifies how digital innovation can drive circularity and value creation in aquaculture. Beyond matchmaking, it nurtures a collaborative environment for developing solutions, sharing knowledge, and scaling best practices. As interest in sustainable marine resources rises globally, Fish Matter positions Portugal as a pioneer in transforming marine co-products into engines of economic, environmental, and scientific impact, with potential for international replication.
Acknowledgements
This work is supported by the Blue Bioeconomy Pact, financed by the European Union through the Next Generation EU programme under the Portuguese Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
References