100% FISH PROGRAMME: LEADING THE WAY IN FISH UTILISATION

100% Fish Programme: leading the way in fish utilisation. The first of a series of features by Fish Focus, starting with our spotlight on Iceland. We will be posting an article every day, covering this amazing trip and showcasing the Icelandic Seafood industry, Icelandic heritage and the hospitality of the Icelandic people. You can read the whole publication here

The 100% Fish Programme in Iceland is an innovative and ambitious initiative aimed at achieving zero waste in the fishing industry by utilising every part of the fish. This movement, pioneered by the Iceland Ocean Cluster, seeks to transform the traditional fishing industry into a model of sustainability and efficiency, ensuring that no part of the fish goes to waste and maximum socio-economic value is gained from each fish.

The mission of the 100% Fish Project is to inspire the seafood industry and communities to utilise more of each fish, thereby increasing the value of each fish landed, supporting new business opportunities, boosting employment, and decreasing waste.

The 100% Fish Programme showcases the range of products made from fish in Iceland. Beyond traditional seafood offerings, Iceland is innovating with fish-derived supplements, medical products, textiles and biomedical products. These advancements stem from improved processing, handling and significant research and development and key here is the role of innovation in re-thinking of the potential uses and business models for different parts of the fish.

A prime example of this is in the medical sector, where cod skin is used for skin grafts, which unlike with traditional pig skin grafts, the rejection rate is practically nil.

Companies within the Iceland Ocean Cluster develop supplements, proteins, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and other high-value products from various fish parts from the value creation pyramid.

30-Fold Increase in Utilisation Over 30 Years

Technological advances in commercial fisheries have dramatically improved product yield. For instance, Icelandic producers of cod fillets have increased their fillet yield by up to 20% over the past two decades.

However, fillets only constitute 35% to 45% of the cod’s weight, with the rest being head, bones, skin and intestines. Due to strict fisheries management regulations, Icelandic fisheries have innovated to profitably exploit the secondary yield from fishing.

Since the 1990s, the utilisation of secondary yields in fisheries has increased 30-fold, the export value per kilogramme of cod has quadrupled and the variety of marine products has multiplied. Today, Icelandic cod producers typically use up to 90% of their raw material.

Challenges and Collaboration

One of the greatest challenges of the 100% Fish Programme is demonstrating the value of cooperation to seafood companies through handling and quality management – also linked to an improved cold supply chain and increasing standardised automation, which have played a key role here in the value creation from the fillet.

By building trust and showing companies the benefits of collaboration, the project aims to secure a brighter future for seafood businesses and coastal regions. 100% Fish facilitates valuable connections with academia, start-ups, R&D institutions, and more within the industry. The Ocean Cluster Network, established by the Iceland Ocean Cluster, is a global network that shares information and knowledge about full seafood utilisation across the oceans.

Opportunities and Global Impact

Research shows that the average raw material utilisation rate of cod in Europe and North America is just over 50%, meaning about half of each fish’s weight is wasted. This highlights a significant opportunity for sharing knowledge and experience in fully utilising seafood products. By doing so, the global protein supply and fisheries’ profits could increase substantially. In Iceland, the industry has achieved over 90% utilisation of white fish.

Innovative health, pharmaceutical, and fashion products from wild fish stocks are being developed in the Icelandic economy. This innovation is driven by a commitment to create more value from each fish. The results are impressive: Icelanders are extracting at least 40% more value from each cod compared to most developed countries. Fish is not just fillets; it includes health products derived from rods, omega and pharmaceuticals from liver, and utilisation of head and bones—essentially, nothing goes to waste.

One thing that is wonderful about this, is the diversity of types of businesses and sectors/knowledge now linked to the blue economy, which means the sector grows and gains more as a sum of its parts.

Read our study on Iceland Fisheries here