Circular Economy in Fisheries: Transforming Aquatic Waste into Sustainable Resources for Agricultural and Industrial Use

Amid increasing environmental concerns and inefficiencies in marine resource management, this study investigates how regenerative principles can be used to recover value from biological residues in aquatic production systems. The main goal is to explore strategies that transform discarded materials from harvesting and processing into useful inputs for agriculture, industry, and energy. By reviewing scholarly literature, global case studies, and regulatory analyses from 2020 to 2025, the research critically evaluates technological innovations, policy changes, and socio-economic impacts of resource reuse. The findings highlight the significant potential of underused biomaterials—such as viscera, shells, scales, and wastewater—to be turned into fertilizers, functional proteins, collagen-based products, and bioplastics. Methods like fermentation, anaerobic digestion, enzymatic hydrolysis, and thermal processing have become key drivers of this change. Paired with the growth of digital technologies and smart monitoring systems, these processes improve traceability, accuracy, and efficiency across supply chains. Importantly, the environmental advantages include reduced pollution, greenhouse gas reduction, and preservation of natural ecosystems. Despite these advances, widespread adoption remains limited by infrastructural deficiencies, regulatory inconsistencies, limited technical expertise, and market hesitancy. The study highlights specific challenges in policy enforcement, financial access, and consumer confidence, especially in low-resource settings where traditional practices and linear models still prevail. It is concluded that a multi-level transformation is necessary—integrating technological readiness, institutional reform, and stakeholder engagement. The recommendations include strengthening policy coherence and incentives, decentralizing processing, expanding educational outreach, and fostering transparent communication to increase acceptance of recycled bio-based products. The insights presented here contribute significantly to the global sustainability dialogue by framing a regenerative model as both essential and achievable for resource-intensive sectors.