GELFISH: Production of structured fish oils for the valorization of discards towards sustainable artisanal coastal fishing
Pleamar program
The GELFISH project has a positive impact on marine protected areas and the Natura 2000 Network, focusing on artisanal fisheries. Its main objective is to reduce the environmental impact of this activity, especially by managing the discards of non-commercial species. It uses these discards to produce oleogels, which reduces the pressure on commercial species, favours the conservation of biodiversity and allows an ecological balance in these areas.
In addition, it provides key information on the sustainability of fisheries, helping to make decisions to protect vulnerable habitats and species.
The environmental assessment proposed in the project will provide key information on the sustainability of fisheries and the associated value chain, enabling informed decision-making to minimise negative impacts on the marine environment.
This includes the protection of species and habitats, aligning with the objectives of the Natura 2000 Network, by reducing the bycatch of protected and non-target species, favouring the protection of vulnerable species and their habitats.
By reducing discards and valorizing unwanted catches, GELFISH promotes more sustainable fishing practices, generating economic opportunities for fishing communities without compromising marine resources.
This contributes to the sustainability of fisheries in marine reserves, by reducing the need to increase fishing.
Likewise, the production of oleogels reduces the ecological footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, supporting the mitigation of climate change in the marine environment.
In addition, in the Marine Reserves of Fishing Interest, the project provides new economic opportunities for local fishing communities by valuing unwanted catches and turning them into products with greater added value.
Line of action:
Marine ecosystemsStatus:
En ejecuciónExecution date:
2024End date:
2026Project web page:
https://www.programapleamar.es/proyectos/gelfish-produccion-de-aceites-estructurados-de-pescado-para-la-valorizacion-de-descartesThe general objective of this proposal focuses on the valorization of fish oil by obtaining oleogels stabilized with different hydrocolloids, some of them of marine origin (such as chitosan) and which can be obtained in valorization processes integrated with the production of the oleogels themselves and other high-value products.
The production of this type of compounds allows, in addition to increasing the value of the oil, the conservation of its nutritional benefits in a new format more suitable for use in the canning industry, promoting a new alternative to make the best possible use of marine resources.
All this with the ultimate aim of encouraging and promoting the increase in the levels of compliance with the landing obligation (OD) through the use of biomass that was discarded before the CFP.
In addition, a techno-economic and environmental analysis of the process will be carried out, quantifying the circularity of the recovery of discards through the use of combined indicators, as well as the potential benefits for the artisanal fleets considered. The project consists of the following specific objectives: OE1: Identify and quantify the most discarded species that now have to arrive at port and do not have an outlet at the fish market, in order to evaluate processing/valorization strategies such as the one proposed in this project to obtain oleogels.
OE2: Study the lipid profile of these most discarded species, in terms of yield, degree of unsaturation and resistance to oxidation.
In addition, in order to promote responsible management of marine resources, an analysis will be made of the possible contaminants (such as heavy metals) present in the most discarded species and that can be transferred and concentrated along the value chain.
OE3: Carry out a detailed study of the production of oleogels considering the technical, economic and environmental feasibility.
Not only will the process itself be studied, but the previous process of extracting the oil will also be taken into account.
OE4: Analyse the scaling up of the value chain for the manufacture of proposed oleogels in order to carry out an efficient management of the actual quantities that currently arrive at port under the OD (and that may potentially arrive in the future by incentivising these processes to comply with them) and determine and quantify the impacts (environmental and socio-economic) at all levels for artisanal fishing fleets.
OE5: Dissemination of the results obtained throughout the project, with special attention to promoting and strengthening the interaction between fishermen, administrations and society in order to promote value-generating actions that encourage greater compliance with the OD, without forgetting the scientific community and the general public.
OE6: Correct technical and administrative implementation of the project in accordance with the objectives pursued and the bases of the Pleamar 2023 call.
University of Santiago de Compostela
GELFISH: Production of structured fish oils for the valorization of discards towards sustainable artisanal coastal fishing
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