Using Fish Waste and By-Products for Manufacturing Organic Fertilizers and Manures

Fish waste is a rising concern because with the exponential rise in the population; the rising demand for fish has increased the production of fish waste. The management of fish waste is one of the main problems that have a great impact both on the economy and the environment. Approximately 30–70% of the fish waste is generated from the consumed fish. Recycling fisheries waste is important as this can be helpful in the prevention of nutrient loss from the food chain. Environmental pollution can be controlled by converting this waste into organic manure and this can be done by utilizing simple techniques with a low budget. Fish waste is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, and calcium which can be useful in organic farming systems. Composting fish waste is a cheap method for its disposal which obliterates the vector-borne diseases and larvae of flies. Fertilizers made from fish waste are useful to increase the content of soil nutrients, control plant diseases, eliminate unwanted plants, and decline the growth of parasites. Fish waste can be used in the form of manure and fertilizer in farms, kitchen gardens, and field crops to enhance the organic matter and nutrients in the soil, increase the moisture-holding capacity and promote the production and quality of the soil. Production of fertilizers from fish by-products promotes nutrient recycling from the aquatic to the terrestrial ecosystem. Various fertilizers made from the fish meal are available in the marketplace, some of which are used in organic agriculture. Fish waste composting will be beneficial for the reduction of fisheries by-products and waste.