This report summarises the research undertaken under FRDC 2014/704: Waste Transformation for the Catering Market. The project aimed to develop and launch at least two value-added products on the institutional catering market using seafood processing waste.
Initially a variety of different seafood processing waste products including picked and seconds Blue Swimmer Crabs, Snapper, Atlantic Salmon and various reef fish frames, Patagonian Toothfish frames, Western Rock Lobster legs, headed and gutted shark, low value prawns and headed and gutted Leatherjacket were transported to the Abacus Fisheries facility in Carnarvon. Mechanical separation of seafood protein from these products was optimised with subsequent data generated on recoveries, and compositional and microbiological food safety analyses. These various forms of separated seafood protein were then used for new product development trials.
During the project, a number of new technologies for seafood protein separation, stabilisation and reforming were developed that can be applied generally to seafood processing waste recovery and new product development.