Toward a Sustainable Surimi Industry: Comprehensive Review and Future Research Directions of Demersal Fish Stock Assessment Techniques

The surimi industry faces challenges due to the overexploitation of demersal fishes, requiring precise fish stock assessments and the exploration of alternative raw materials. Research in these areas is crucial for fish sustainability. Thus, the current study aims to identify the existing knowledge covering the use of the length-based spawning potential ratio (LB-SPR) as a fish stock assessment method and to fill the gap in the research by consolidating relevant literature through a PRISMA SLR, using qualitative and quantitative data. The findings indicate that the LB-SPR method, while effective, needs to be utilized more in the surimi industry. This review highlights the need for precise stock assessments, historical data collection, and advanced sampling technologies, which are crucial for accurate data collection to conduct LB-SPR studies to assess fish stocks. Our study finds that significant research gaps include the need for more empirical studies on reproductive biology and the crucial role of interdisciplinary research in enhancing the long-term viability of fish stocks and the health of marine ecosystems.