There’s something fishy going on! Sustainable exploitation of waste skins from the fishing sector

Around 6 million tonnes of fish skin are produced by the global fishing community, of which most hold no value and are disposed into landfill. It is key that we develop more sustainable approaches that maximise the use of
wastes that are generated from industrial and farming sectors. Collaborating with researchers from the University of Stirling our MSc student, William Lohay, has investigated waste Nile Perch and Salmon skins for use in leather production and evaluated the viability of a commercial fish skin tannery.
The image shows a repeating diamond pattern on the surface of a Nile Perch leather, generated when the fish scales fall out during the leather making process. In addition to creating a usable material from a waste product, these leathers possess a unique appearance, similar to that of exotic leathers, offering application in high value couture fashion.