Norway has been successful in researching the full utilization of herring. The research has been going on for three years and the result is that what is left after filleting can be used in only 17 different products. In Iceland, research on this is also underway at Matís.
A report in the Norwegian fisheries magazine FiskeribladetFiskaren says that the study aimed to create more income for pelagic processing in Norway for its products through increased processing for human consumption.
"We look at these by-products as raw materials for fishmeal production as they are now. Norwegians have been trying to make products for human consumption from the by-products. We have been looking at these too, whether they go to fishmeal production or for human consumption. The price of fishmeal is amazingly high and the utilization of this herring raw material is very high in both flour and fish oil. However, this high price will not last forever and that is why we are also looking at ways to increase food processing, "says Sigurjón Arason, chief engineer at Matís.
He says that the big difference in the situation is that Norwegians have many times more money to invest in research.
"Their research fund is called FHF. As our AFS fund decreases from year to year, the FHF (Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund) is constantly expanding. The situation is very unequal in this respect. We have come a long way in cooperating with the companies in the country. It has been our strength as Icelanders that the companies have been diligent in participating in the development. "
Sigurjón says that Icelanders are far from exhausted from the opportunities that lie in further utilization of the marine catch. There is less than ISK 1 billion unused.
At its peak, around ISK 300 million was spent on research from the ACP Fund. The Norwegian FHF Fund provides NOK 215 million for research in 2014, compared to NOK 185 million in 2013, which is close to ISK 5 billion.
For further information Sigurjón Arason, chief engineer at Matís.
The interview with Sigurjón Arason first appears in Fish news.