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Innovative Biotechnology Processes for Marine By-Products: From Waste Stream to Value Stream

A special issue of Marine Drugs (ISSN 1660-3397). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biotechnology Related to Drug Discovery or Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 October 2025 | Viewed by 397

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
UPCYCLINK, 22 Rue de Mangorvenec, 56890 Saint-Avé, France
Interests: marine; biomass; by-product; valorization; biotechnology; zero waste
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Humanity’s millennia-old reliance on marine resources now faces a critical juncture. As fishing technologies push ecological boundaries, transforming waste streams into value streams has become imperative for food security and ocean sustainability. Building on the success of our first edition (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/marinedrugs/special_issues/EC9509JYS0), this Special Issue seeks pioneering research on the biotechnological valorization of fishery discards and marine by-products.

We invite studies optimizing bioactive compound extraction (enzymatic hydrolysis, green chemistry), biorefinery models, and circular processing chains yielding nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, or biodegradable materials. Submissions bridging lab-scale innovation with industrial scalability are prioritized, particularly those addressing lifecycle analysis or techno-economic viability.

This Special Issue aims to catalyze academia–industry synergies, advancing pragmatic solutions for zero-waste marine resource management. Contributors are encouraged to submit findings with validated applications, ensuring scientific rigor meets real-world impact.

Dr. Bergé Jean-Pascal
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Marine Drugs is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • circular bioeconomy
  • blue biotechnology
  • discard-derived molecules
  • marine bioactive valorization
  • zero-waste processing
  • fishery biorefinery
  • enzymatic bioconversion
  • marine ingredient LCA

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

20 pages, 9007 KiB  
Review
Marine-Derived Collagen and Chitosan: Perspectives on Applications Using the Lens of UN SDGs and Blue Bioeconomy Strategies
by Mariana Almeida and Helena Vieira
Mar. Drugs 2025, 23(8), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/md23080318 - 1 Aug 2025
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Marine biomass, particularly from waste streams, by-products, underutilized, invasive, or potential cultivable marine species, offers a sustainable source of high-value biopolymers such as collagen and chitin. These macromolecules have gained significant attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, functional versatility, and broad applicability across [...] Read more.
Marine biomass, particularly from waste streams, by-products, underutilized, invasive, or potential cultivable marine species, offers a sustainable source of high-value biopolymers such as collagen and chitin. These macromolecules have gained significant attention due to their biocompatibility, biodegradability, functional versatility, and broad applicability across health, food, wellness, and environmental fields. This review highlights recent advances in the uses of marine-derived collagen and chitin/chitosan. In alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we analyze how these applications contribute to sustainability, particularly in SDGs related to responsible consumption and production, good health and well-being, and life below water. Furthermore, we contextualize the advancement of product development using marine collagen and chitin/chitosan within the European Union’s Blue bioeconomy strategies, highlighting trends in scientific research and technological innovation through bibliometric and patent data. Finally, the review addresses challenges facing the development of robust value chains for these marine biopolymers, including collaboration, regulatory hurdles, supply-chain constraints, policy and financial support, education and training, and the need for integrated marine resource management. The paper concludes with recommendations for fostering innovation and sustainability in the valorization of these marine resources. Full article
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