Enzymatic Upgrading of Fish and Crustacean Products

Abstract

Fish wastes constitute an important source of biologically active molecules possessing peculiar properties and practical application promises in various areas ( agriculture, medicine, chemistry, biotechnology ). Several enzymes from crustacean and fish wastes for which sizable stocks of viscera are actually available have been considered. These enzyme activities are namely an aminopeptidase from tuna, a carboxypeptidase from dogfish, a specific crustacean protease extracted from the crab Carcinus maenas and from the cultivated shrimp Penaeus monodon and pepsins from several fish species. A second utilization of these wastes aims to generate biologically active substances (immunostimulants, gastro-intestinal peptides etc. ) through the hydrolysis of marine fish or invertebrates and to use them for enhancing growth and disease resistance of animals or as therapeutical molecules.