Fish by products and their use
Fishes are consumed as food in fresh condition. Some of them are also utilized after the preservation. During
preservation and processing, some materials of fish and prawn are discarded as waste. Similarly some trash and
distasteful fishes are unsuitable for human consumption. These waste material and above fishes become an
important source to produce fish by-products, which in turn are used to produce different useful fish by-products.
With other seafoods, it provides the world's prime source of high-quality protein; 14-16% of the animal protein
consumed worldwide. Over one billion people rely on fish as their primary source of animal protein.
Fish Liver Oil:
Fish liver oil is one of the most important by-products of fish. Liver, which is a part of the offal discard during
dressing of landed fish, is the storehouse of glycogen and fat along with Vitamins A and D, as it has medicinal use in
the form of prophylactic and curative. This property of fish livers of certain fishes like Cod, Shark, Ray, Halibut, Tuna,
etc. has rendered it of immense commercial value of providing highly medicinal ‘liver oil’.
Fish Body Oil:
Fish body oil is the oil obtained from the entire body of fishes like Herring, Sardine, Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovy, etc.
Fatty fishes like Sardine yield more oil than non-fatty fishes. However, on an average about half kg of fish body oil
can be obtained from five kg of fishes.
Fish body oil varies according to season, sex, size, age, nature of food and the locality from which it is caught. It has
been observed that the body oil content in mackerel rises to a maximum in October- November and falls thereafter.
Fish meal:
With a protein content of 60-75%, it is in great demand by manufacturers of animal feed: especially petfood and
aquaculture.
Moisture —6-12% (Moisture content is greater in lean fish than in fat fish).
Proteins — 55-70% (The protein of fish meal is of high digestibility coefficient and contains all the essential amino
acids).
Oil/fat -2-15%.
Minerals — 10-20% (calcium 5%, phosphorous 4% and iodine).
Vitamins — Very rich in vitamins A, B, B12, D, K and E.
Fish Manure and Guano:
This manure has a high content of nitrogen (5-7%), phosphates about 4-6% and lime (CaO) 1-5%. For such nutrient
content, fish manure is useful in raising coffee, tea and tobacco crops.
Fish guano is the by-product of the body oil extraction plant which is the dried refuse left after the oil is pressed out.
Here oil bearing species such as oil sardines are used as raw material. Fish guano contains high concentration of
nitrogen (8-10%) and appreciable quantities of phosphoric acid. For this, guano is several times more effective than
any animal manure.
Protein hydrolyzates (Fish Flour):
Their demand has been increasing due to their specific use in human food. Fish flour is a superior quality fish meal,
produced under strict control and care, and forms an ideal protein supplement for human diet, even for infants of 3-4
months old.
It is used to enrich bakery products such as bread, biscuits, cakes and soup.
As the product contains high protein (35%), it is very suitable for convalescing patients struck with malnutrition,
anaemia, etc.
Fish Solubles:
The residual part of the liquid which is obtained during the extraction process of fish oil is known as fish solubles. It
is valued as additives to dry feeds for animals.
It is rich in protein and vitamin B-complex
Fish Glue:
Fish glue is a good adhesive obtained from trimmings, bones and skin of fishes belonging to order — Gadiformes
(Cods, Pollack, Hakes, etc.). The raw materials are washed, chopped and steam-heated in steam-jacketed cookers.
The mass is then covered with water and to it is added small quantity of acetic acid. It is then cooked for 6-10 hours.
The liquor is extracted and concentrated to form glue. The residue is dried and is used as manure.
Fish glue is used for:
(1) Smearing the backs of glued stamps and labels.
(2) Glue obtained from cod is of better quality and is used in photo-engraving.
Fish Skin:
The skin of larger fishes is collected, soaked in brine and left for a day. On the next day it is salted and again put in
brine containing 10% hydrocholoric acid. The skin is then taken out, drained and scraped on the surface, particularly
to remove fine denticles present in the skin of sharks. They are then limed and tanned by the usual process.
Fish leather, particularly of sharks, is used in making shoes, wallets, bags and tobacco pouches.
The skin of sharks, ray, skates are very hard and is used as an abrasive for polishing wood or metal.
Fish Fins:
The fins (except caudal fin) of shark are cut near the root, washed in sea water, dusted with a mixture of wood ashes
and lime and dried in the sun or smoked. The cured product is crisp and brittle. In China and Philippines the shark
fins are used in soup.
Isinglass (Gelatin):
Isinglass is a gelatin-like material obtained from the swim bladder or air-bladder of certain fishes. When put in water,
it swells up but does not dissolve in it. At high temperature it hydrolyses in water to produce strongly adhesive
gelatin.
Isinglass has the following uses:
(1) Isinglass is used mainly for clarification of wine, beer and vinegar.
(2) It is used for the preparation of special grade cement and plaster.
(3) Formerly it was used as a substitute for gelatin in confectionery.
(4) In addition, it can serve as a support material for the implantation of stem cells.
Medicinal Products:
1. The pancreas of shark is very rich in insulin. Whales also provide a considerable quantity of insulin. Fish
replaces catties in providing raw material for the manufacture of insulin.
2. The large otoliths of Sciaenids are removed from the head and after rubbing and mixing them with water, are
given to convalescent children suffering from rickets.
3. Live fishes such as Clarias batrachus, Heteropneustes fossilis and Channa sp. are valued for their high
nutritive and medicinal properties.
