Thorny skate is a significant by-catch for long-liners fishing for white fish. Currently, the skates result in an economic loss and are viewed more as a challenge than an opportunity.
Thorny skate has potential to be a valuable raw material, however due to their small size, their wings are too small for existing filet markets, and the processing too costly. Improved and increased utilisation of this raw material as food and high-value products could boost the competitiveness of Norwegian seafood and contribute to national food security.
Skate is a cartilaginous fish and therefore a great source for cartilage, which can be used for the extraction of marine collagen, an ingredient with a high value in international markets.
There is a need to establish a sustainable value chain for Norwegian skate linked to current and accessible markets.
The BRAVE project will assess the full utilisation of skate by producing two valuable fractions through mechanical deboning: A protein rich mince and a cartilage fraction.
Collagen will be extracted using energy efficient methods from the cartilage, and its quality will be assessed according to market requirements. The protein rich mince, from the skate flesh, will be analysed for nutritional value and assessed for its potential use in seafood products for human consumption.
A key objective of the project is to implement innovation by evaluating the industrial feasibility and economic viability of proposed processes.
Furthermore, the development of a sustainable value chain for Norwegian thorny skate will be assessed through life cycle analysis (LCA), measuring environmental impact, energy consumption, and resource efficiency. This approach ensures that the proposed solutions are both technically feasible and aligned with sustainability objectives.
By demonstrating increased utilisation of thorny skate, the project could serve as a model for valorising by-catch and other underutilised marine resources.
Top image: Thorny skate. Photo: Stine Steen/SINTEF.