Minimizing and adding value to seafood processing wastes

•An environmental performance evaluation was done to benchmark the performance of a fish producing company with data in relevant literature.•Using different resource efficiency measures significant water saving was achieved.•Specific water consumption in anchovy thawing and gutting processes decreased by 65% and 77% respectively.•The company could produce valuable fish oil/grease as by-product of the water recycling system introduced in the gutting process.•This case study is a concrete example of sustainability work in the seafood processing industry. This study investigated waste minimization and recycling opportunities in a seafood processing industry. An environmental performance evaluation was done to benchmark performance of the company with published data including Best Available Techniques (BATs) determined by The European IPPC Bureau (EIPPCB). Four broad objectives were set improving the resource efficiency and adding value to solid wastes/by-products. 18 different techniques/measures for reducing waste and adding value to the by-product were identified. Three of the techniques/measures were selected and implemented within the company. Specific water consumption decreased 65% and 77% in anchovy thawing and gutting processes, respectively. Because anchovy is the major product of the company, total water saving was 45.0%. Annual total water saving was estimated to be 29,002m3. The water recycling system introduced in the gutting process enabled t production of valuable fish oil/grease by-product. Payback period for the implementations was estimated to be 1.6 years. This study demonstrated that environmental and economic benefits can be obtained in the Turkish seafood industry.