In the local fisheries industry, today there are large quantities of fish by-products, such as cuttings, bones, skin and entrails.
This is the background for why the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) in Sri Lanka and Fiskeriforskning have collaborated on the development of new products based on by-products from tuna fish, crustaceans and other local species.
At a meeting in Bergen tomorrow, scientists at ITI and Fiskeriforskning will present the project for the Minister of International Development.
New products
The scientists at ITI in Sri Lanka have in collaboration with their Norwegian colleagues at Fiskeriforskning completed Phase One of the project, where they have mapped the raw material base and product and market possibilities.
The project is now into Phase Two, where the work is concentrated on production and sale of specific products. Health foods, pharmaceutical products and feeds for livestock and fish are among the products they are working with. In the industrial development part, Norwegian industry is also being brought in so that the project can be beneficial for both countries.
"But we would like to have more Norwegian companies involved", says Scientist Anders Aksnes, who leads Fiskeriforskning's activity in the project.
The project has a budget of 4 MNOK, and is supported by NORAD and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Can become a model
"It has aroused interests that scientists are contributing so concretely in product and industrial development as we are doing here. No, the Minister of International Development also wants information about the work that has been done and the plans for the future," says Aksnes.
"We see the possibility that this collaboration method can also be used in other developing countries, says Ola Flesland, Department Director at Fiskeriforskning's Department in Bergen.
