An Innovative Approach to Improve Livelihood Resilience of Coastal Fishing Community from Fish Waste

Coastal zone of Bangladesh support estimated about 1.3 million artisanal fishers. Most of them are living under the extreme poverty level and exposed to extreme climate change-driven weather event threats. Due to lack of... [ view full abstract ]

Coastal zone of Bangladesh support estimated about 1.3 million artisanal fishers. Most of them are living under the extreme poverty level and exposed to extreme climate change-driven weather event threats. Due to lack of proper cold storage and icing facilities within the remote fishing communities; making dry fish using sunlight is a century old practice. In the dry fish preparation process, a huge quantity of fish waste is generated. It is estimated that fish waste constitutes about 19.45% of the total body weight, thrown into the sea coast, causing organic pollution in the marine environment. Despite the issue, our research team conducts a pilot research with own resources to innovate new ideas to utilize these huge quantities of fish waste generated in coastal communities, kitchen markets, and nearby fish processing industries. We develop various gorgeous jewelry, wall mate, flower vase, flower stick, coat pin, brooch, hair band, bracelets, earrings for girls and women as well as green fertilizer for agricultural purposes. The aim of the research was to recover livelihood hardiness of coastal communities through additional income from fish waste. The present paper also shares the innovated technology to the coastal stakeholders for further review and fine-tuning of methods for commercial uses.