Bangladesh has recently experienced an increase in income from exporting non-traditional fish scales, which are proving to be a profitable export item.
While fish and seafood byproducts like scales, gills, fins, dried shrimp shells, appendages, and air bladders may seem like smelly, environmental waste, they can be profitably utilized with appropriate methods to meet global industrial demands.
Despite being a commonly ignored byproduct, fish scales have significant economic value and applications that are not limited to their marine source.
Fish scales, abundant in collagen, are a key ingredient for making gelatin, which is widely used in the food, medicine, and cosmetics industries.
For food lovers, utilizing gelatin from fish scales in cooking offers a healthier and more environmentally conscious option.
The collagen derived from fish scales has a wide array of applications, notably in medical and cosmetic products. This particular type of collagen is transforming the beauty industry by presenting a natural and eco-friendly alternative for anti-aging skincare.
Notably, Bangladesh has recently seen a surge in fish scale exports, which are now a valuable commodity generating Tk 200 crore, as per export promotion Bureau figures.
During the 2022-23 fiscal year, a total of 3022 tons of fish scales were exported globally, generating Tk 40 crore (US$4 million).
Remarkably, last year, 2874 tonnes of fish scales were exported, yielding a significantly higher revenue of Tk 80 crore (US$8 million).
This rise in export earnings underscores the significant, previously unrecognized, potential of fish scales as a highly profitable commodity in Bangladesh.
To prepare fish scales, they are collected and rinsed thoroughly in clean or warm water to remove any oily particles. After this washing, the damp scales are then sun-dried until they become crispy.
Some people them with individuals to process the scales by grinding them into a powder.
Furthermore, the dried fish fibers are accurately packaged and shipped to various international destinations. From every 20 kilograms of fish, approximately 5 kilograms of fish scales are extracted.
Currently, fish scales are meticulously collected and sold for an average price of Tk 70 (US$0.63) per kilogram, a significant shift from when they were simply discarded.
The value of these scales varies depending on the type and size of the fish they originate from, larger scales typically command higher prices, while smaller ones have varied price points.
As the nation’s fish production expands, managing the resulting fish waste has become a significant concern. Consequently, Bangladesh earns little from its fish byproducts, despite their vast potential, because it lacks the ability to fully process the external parts of fish and other aquatic life. This forces the country to sell discards like fish scales as raw materials to nations such as China, Korea, Thailand, and India, who then gain substantial profits from further processing.
