Developing new products from catfish processing by-products

July 29th, 2022

In a project funded by the #Aus4Innovation program, Western Sydney University and Research Institute for Aquaculture No.2 (Ho Chi Minh City) are working with industry partners to develop a circular economy model, using computer models to create high-value products from catfish by-products.
 
Vietnam’s Tra Catfish industry in Mekong Delta region was reported to have produced approximately 1.52 million tons in 2021, of which 60-70% were discarded as by-products. The model will help process by-products including head, bones, fin, skin and organs into fish meals with stabilized protein concentration levels. This helps reduce high feed costs for farmers and reduces the negative impact of the catfish processing industry on the environment.
 

Experts from Western Sydney University visiting catfish processing plants in An Giang and Tien Giang provinces to learn about their production and by-products

Experts from Western Sydney University visiting catfish processing plants in An Giang and Tien Giang provinces to learn about their production and by-products

The project team also met with industry partners to gather data to help perfect a nutrition prediction model which will help create a aquafeed product with stabilised level of protein concentration from diverse sources of by-products

The aquafeed product is now in test production by Research Institute for Aquaculture No.2.