045 | From map and gap analyses to solutions for circular economy implementation in Sicilian seafood-processing sector

Michelle Marchan Gonzalez^1|2|3, Alessandra Aiello^1|2|3, Concetta Maria Messina^1|2|3 | ¹Laboratory of Marine Biochemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, DiSTeM, University of Palermo, Trapani, Italy; ²Istituto di Biologia Marina, Consorzio Universitario della Provincia di Trapani, Trapani, Italy; ³National Biodiversity Future Center NBFC, Palermo, Italy.

This study examines Sicilian fishery and seafood-processing by-products as a system-level case, showing how local coastal dynamics mirror broader European challenges. The fisheries and aquaculture sector is a primary pillar of the agri-food system and is recognised as strategic within the EU Agenda 2030 and sustainability objectives. In alignment with the European Union’s Blue Economy and circular economy strategies, as well as the European Green Deal and Zero Waste frameworks, the study investigates why linear management practices persist and how EU sustainability goals translate into operational practices within fragmented coastal systems. Systematic mapping of by-product flows and stakeholder engagement provides an empirical basis for identifying structural gaps and enabling locally grounded circular economy pathways. Sicily, with its fragmented, small-scale yet economically relevant seafood sector, constitutes a suitable test case for these strategies. Although research and technology transfer have advanced to pilot and industrial-scale recovery of high-value compounds, implementation remains uneven at the local level. Within this context, Horizon Europe initiatives such as the BlueRev project aimed to operationalise circular economy principles by fostering integrated eco–socio-productive ecosystems in small-scale coastal communities, strengthening coordination, knowledge sharing, and the sustainable use of marine resources. An integrated quantitative–qualitative approach was applied across Sicilian seafood-processing hubs, combining structured questionnaires, stakeholder interviews, and descriptive material-flow analysis. Results show that marine by-products are generated predominantly during evisceration, decapitation, and filleting, producing heterogeneous biomass streams whose generation varies across facilities due to interspecies variability and seasonal concentration. Spatially dispersed biomass flows across multiple small- and medium-sized operators limit aggregation and constrain economies of scale for valorisation. Qualitative evidence indicates that by-products are often managed as waste; this reflects the combined effect of limited shared knowledge, fragmented quantification, uncertainty regarding the scale and potential uses of residual biomass, and challenges related to the practical application of existing regulatory frameworks. Analysis indicates that non-standardised data increase perceived operational risk, favouring disposal-oriented pathways. In fragmented systems, uncertainty regarding the distribution of by-product streams limits coordination and collective valorisation. Systematic mapping and quantification may therefore structure decision-making by transforming fragmented biomass into a governable resource, enabling coordinated and locally viable circular economy solutions.