Sensory attractiveness, health benefits, price and convenience are important motives among consumers when it comes to accepting and purchasing food products. When it comes to seafood, there is a demand in the market for high-quality fish. The production of fresh cusk fillets can meet consumer demands, but both market mapping and cost-benefit analysis are required throughout the entire value chain. In this project, we will map the market regarding cusk fillets, including potential customers, desired product and acceptance in the market.
The project will also include the implementation of production trials where the machine filleting of cusk will be investigated. Existing filleting machines are not adapted to the species, and mapping is needed to investigate whether these should be used for filleting and skinning cusk. The technology can affect both the yield and quality of raw materials, so effective and quality-enhancing processing is essential to avoid loss of quality and value. In addition, mapping of shelf life will be carried out in order to establish a platform of knowledge for possible entry into the market.
The project “Fresh, line-caught cusk as raw material for fillet production” started in November 2021 and will continue until March 2023. The project has been allocated NOK 1.7 million from the Norwegian Seafood Research Fund (FHF) (project number 901728). Link to the project at FHF https://www.fhf.no/prosjekter/prosjektbasen/901728/