Fish waste that causes sea slime to be recycled and exported
One of the leading causes of fish farm sea slime will start being recycled rather than dumped at sea, the government has said.
Economy Minister Silvio Schembri said a new project by Malta’s main aquaculture operators will see tuna waste start being processed into new products for export.
“This is where we want to head. A project that is not only creating a new industry, which will enhance our economy, but we are turning fish waste into a valuable resource, waste that is normally dumped into the sea will, instead, be used to create a new product,” Schembri said.
The economy minister was speaking during a visit to a plant under construction at the Ħal Far industrial estate that will be used to manage tuna waste, processing it into new products, namely fishmeal and fish oil. For years, this waste has been dumped at sea by the operators.
The plant is an investment by Aquaculture Resources Limited, which is made up of AJD Tuna Ltd, Fish and Fish Ltd and MFF Ltd, the island’s three largest tuna ranchers.
The €11 million facility will also store and prepare tuna feed, minimising the amount of residual fat that makes its way into tuna pens.
To this aim, the operators will be investing...