Seafood processing generates a large volume of by-products. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Vietnam, one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of seafood, is exploring ways to transform seafood by-products into value-added products, boosting the sustainability and profitability of the sector while contributing to a circular economy.

In Ho Chi Minh City, several enterprises have successfully tapped into this potential. Nguyen Thanh Loc, Director of Phuc Loc Co. Ltd., in Tan Hai ward, said the company purchases about 60 tonnes of by-products daily from fishing vessels and factories to produce 4,000–5,000 tonnes of fishmeal annually, generating revenues of 72–90 billion VND (3–3.9 million USD). “With additional capital and technology, we could increase protein content to 64% and reduce imports by 140,000 tonnes of fishmeal each year”, he added.

Meanwhile, Tu Hai Co. Ltd., in Phuoc Thang ward has begun exporting cleaned and dried fish bones to Japan at 10 USD per kilogramme, yielding 10-12 billion VND annually. “Demand is high, but supply is limited. It looks like the beginning of a promising new business”, said Dao Quoc Tuan, CEO of Tu Hai Co. Ltd.

On a larger scale, the Southern Research Institute for Marine Fisheries utilises mixed crab species to produce canned crab paste and chitosan powder – a raw material for healthcare and agriculture – which is sold at up to 1,000 USD per kilogramme.

Beyond industrial applications, seafood by-products are being transformed into artistic tourist souvenirs. Restaurants and processing facilities generate tonnes of shells nightly.

Hai Lan Co. Ltd., in Ba Ria ward collects and recycles shells into souvenirs, artwork and jewellery, with items selling for between 40,000 VND and 20 million VND each.

Recently, the company reportedly signed a memorandum of understanding with OSB Investment and Technology JSC – Alibaba’s authorised agent in Vietnam – to market its shell-based products on Alibaba’s e-commerce platform, expanding their global reach.

Environmental awareness and creativity are also inspiring young people. Nguyen Le Minh Chau, a student at Vung Tau High School, submitted a model “Workshop for Handmade Shell Products in a Beach-themed Coffee Shop” to the Ba Ria–Vung Tau Seafood Innovation Contest. The concept allows visitors to create their own shell-based items in a workshop setting while enjoying drinks in a space decorated with appealing shells.

Support in policy, capital and technology

According to forecasts from the agriculture and environment sector, in the coming years, shrimp heads alone could provide around 490,000 tonnes of food products, while pangasius offcuts and stomachs could provide 100,000 tonnes, and fish oil could provide 150,000 tonnes. Shrimp shells could yield 146,000 tonnes of animal feed, while fish heads, bones and entrails could supply another 900,000 tonnes annually.

Other by-products – such as shrimp shells and fish skin or swim bladders – could be processed into high-value items for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and other industries.By 2030, shrimp by-products are projected to reach 650,000 tonnes, worth 80-100 million USD, and pangasius 1.3 million tonnes, valued at over 500 million USD.

Pham Thi Na, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Agriculture and Environment, noted that processing by-products could generate tens of thousands of jobs, enhance Vietnam’s seafood reputation, and ease pressure on the environment due to food processing waste.

Pham Quoc Huy, Director of the Southern Research Institute for Marine Fisheries, emphasised that turning by-products into resources requires treating them as a strategic industry rather than leaving it to the spontaneous market. Beyond fishmeal and fish oil, global trends now include extracting peptides and enzymes, and producing biodegradable materials and packaging from shrimp shells and fish skin.

Supportive policies, green financing, and stronger collaboration among businesses, scientists, and authorities could turn seafood waste into “blue gold”, boosting Vietnam’s marine economy, protecting oceans, and raising the global profile of its seafood industry.

Currently, seafood by-products – mainly shrimp shells, crab shells, fish skin, bones and organs – amount to around 1 million tonnes per year, with over 90% in solid form. Improper disposal can lead to environmental pollution, especially in tropical regions. Currently, the processing value of these by-products is approximately 275 million USD per year, significantly lower than the estimated potential of 4-5 billion USD.