Valorising seafood side streams, residues, unwanted catches and discards for production of bioactive protein hydrolysates and high added value biomolecules
VASEACAD aims to transform seafood side streams from aquaculture and fisheries into valuable bio-based products, advancing a more circular and sustainable blue economy. By unlocking the potential of underutilised marine biomass, VASEACAD project seeks to develop high-value biomolecules for applications in food, feed, and health, while reducing waste and environmental impact.
Through innovative bioprocessing technologies and collaborative research, VASEACAD addresses key challenges in resource efficiency, particularly in regions where side streams are fragmented, promoting inter-species recycling, supporting industry uptake, and contributing to long-term environmental, economic and societal benefits.
Welcome to VASEACAD, a Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership research project dedicated to transforming seafood side streams into valuable resources for a more sustainable future.
Across Europe, aquaculture and fisheries generate significant amounts of by-products that are often underutilised. VASEACAD brings together leading research institutions, industry partners, and stakeholders to unlock the full potential of this marine biomass. By applying innovative biotechnological approaches, the project converts these side streams into high-value ingredients for food, feed and health applications.
At the heart of VASEACAD is a commitment to circularity, sustainability, and innovation. From pilot-scale processing and bioactive compound development to feeding trials and environmental assessments, the project covers the entire value chain bridging the gap between research and real-world application.
By working collaboratively across countries and sectors, VASEACAD aims to reduce waste, create new economic opportunities and support a resilient and sustainable blue economy.
The project is Co-funded by the European Union and partners national funding agencies.
Large volumes of by-products from aquaculture and fisheries, such as heads, bones, offals and offcuts, are often discarded or used in low-value applications. This represents a significant loss of valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds.
In regions such as the Mediterranean and Black Sea, seafood side streams are generated in fragmented and relatively small quantities, making conventional large-scale processing inefficient or unfeasible. This structural limitation prevents effective resource recovery.
The aquaculture and fisheries sectors face increasing pressure to reduce waste, improve resource efficiency and lower environmental impact.
VASEACAD delivers an integrated, circular solution to transform seafood side streams into high-value, sustainable products. By combining advanced biotechnological processes with innovative small-scale pilot-scale technologies, the project converts underutilised marine biomass into bioactive protein hydrolysates, fish oil and functional ingredients for food, feed and health applications.
At the core of VASEACAD is a decentralised and scalable approach. By using mobile and small-scale processing systems, side streams can be valorised close to their point of generation, overcoming the logistical and regional constraints typical of the Mediterranean and Black Sea areas. This enables efficient resource recovery while reducing waste and environmental impact.
The project goes beyond technology development by addressing the full value chain, from raw material collection and bioprocessing to product validation, market analysis and environmental assessment. Through inter-species recycling and sustainable feed development, VASEACAD promotes circularity within aquaculture systems, supporting a more resilient and resource-efficient blue economy.
By bridging the gap between research and industry, VASEACAD aims to bring innovative marine-based solutions closer to market, generating economic opportunities while contributing to environmental sustainability and improved resource use.
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...15 June, 2026 The VASEACAD consortium met online on 15 June 2026 for its first coordination meeting, bringing together partners from across Europe to review progress achieved during the project’s first year and coordinate the activities planned for the months...
23 March, 2026 VASEACAD has been officially recognised as a UN Ocean Decade Action under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). The endorsement acknowledges the project’s contribution to advancing sustainable ocean management through research and...