Sicily and Malta, with strong traditions in fishing and small-scale fish processing, face challenges in managing fish waste. Rural and coastal areas encounter barriers such as limited infrastructure for waste processing and transportation, as well as slower knowledge transfer between research and industry due to fragmented networks. This results in discarding side streams from the fish-processing industry, which, in turn, leads to environmental, economic, and social costs.

The Bythos project addressed these challenges by introducing biotechnological solutions to transform waste into valuable products. This approach aligns with regional goals for sustainable development, circular economy practices, and reduction of fisheries’ environmental footprint.

The project started with the set up of living labs in Sicilian and Maltese urban and rural areas to facilitate collaboration among researchers, businesses, and local stakeholders throughout the project and beyond. These labs served as hubs for knowledge transfer, enabling end-users and researchers to come together and co-develop methods for producing bioactive molecules such as marine collagen, chitosan, and astaxanthin from fish waste.

Demonstration labs were established in the Marsaxlokk, Malta, and Lipari, Sicily, rural areas where stakeholders could observe the practical application of waste transformation techniques and gain insights into the circular economy model.

An innovative, mobile, pre-treatment unit was designed and tested in Lipari to address logistical challenges such as stabilising fish waste without refrigeration. This solution allowed for easier waste collection from fish sellers and restaurants, reducing environmental and economic costs.

To ensure commercial viability, the project engaged small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from the fisheries, aquaculture, and biotechnology sectors to present its activities and results. In addition, stakeholders from academia, industry, and the public sector were actively involved in the project dissemination activities, forming a network dedicated to strengthening the blue economy in the Mediterranean.