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15.6 Impact Sustainability: Final Remarks
The supply of fish in the oceans is not endless, and therefore we need to manage
fisheries in a more sustainable way. By developing fish skin leather, we could
achieve sustainable ocean development, optimising fisheries management and
increasing the value of the catches (Bechtel 2003). The future availability of seafood, however, is threatened by overfishing, unsustainable seafood, farming practices, ocean pollution and acidification. Strategies aimed at increasing the utilisation
of fish skin that would otherwise be discarded must be carefully considered. Creating
markets for fish skin runs the risk of incentivising bigger catches and creating fishing pressure for species currently viewed as fish skin potential.
The Icelandic fish skin model has proved reliable, and this model can be duplicated in seafood industries around the world, creating new opportunities in coastal
areas (Sigfusson 2017a, b). The project could be scaled up by developing a model
of fish leather-waste production that can be used by factories in other countries with
a big consumption of fish in their diet and countries with a history of using fish skin
leather. By doing so, indigenous fishing communities which used to subsist upon,
and dress themselves with, fish skin leather items – like the Ainu in Hokkaido, the
Nanai in Siberia and Alaska’s Inuit – will be able to reach agreements with nearby
fishing plants for the supply of fish skins to recover their ancient craft skills of tanning fish skins and develop productions that will boost their economy.
Fish skin leather can be used in wallets, bags and shoes. The process is low-tech
and requires little capital, which makes it ideal for small businesses or for setup in
developing countries (Henning and Jain 2017). The overall findings align with the
Icelandic industry’s commitment towards greater sustainability. The study suggests
that there is a great financial opportunity to use fish skin as a new raw material for
fashion. Countries with both high demand and cultural reliance on fish are potential
candidates for the marketing and sale of fish skin leather. It is highly recommended
that similar case studies are developed in other fish-producing consumer areas.
The case study has also given new insights into the potential for even greater
sustainability actions through the implementation of workshops within higher education fashion. Students have studied how fish by-products are used in the value
chain and how it demonstrates positive waste reduction.
Through examining the strategic management of fish skin, this study has outlined the ability for the aquaculture industry to produce more value from the same
amount of resources. In conclusion, there are economic and environmental benefits
that should be considered in order to develop fish skin further as a new raw material
for fashion.
With collaboration between industry and academia, the rise of fish skin as a new
by-product raw material for fashion will contribute to the sustainable development
and future growth of the aquaculture and fashion industries.
E. Palomino
15.6 Impact Sustainability: Final Remarks
The supply of fish in the oceans is not endless, and therefore we need to manage
fisheries in a more sustainable way. By developing fish skin leather, we could
achieve sustainable ocean development, optimising fisheries management and
increasing the value of the catches (Bechtel 2003). The future availability of seafood, however, is threatened by overfishing, unsustainable seafood, farming practices, ocean pollution and acidification. Strategies aimed at increasing the utilisation
of fish skin that would otherwise be discarded must be carefully considered. Creating
markets for fish skin runs the risk of incentivising bigger catches and creating fishing pressure for species currently viewed as fish skin potential.
The Icelandic fish skin model has proved reliable, and this model can be duplicated in seafood industries around the world, creating new opportunities in coastal
areas (Sigfusson 2017a, b). The project could be scaled up by developing a model
of fish leather-waste production that can be used by factories in other countries with
a big consumption of fish in their diet and countries with a history of using fish skin
leather. By doing so, indigenous fishing communities which used to subsist upon,
and dress themselves with, fish skin leather items – like the Ainu in Hokkaido, the
Nanai in Siberia and Alaska’s Inuit – will be able to reach agreements with nearby
fishing plants for the supply of fish skins to recover their ancient craft skills of tanning fish skins and develop productions that will boost their economy.
Fish skin leather can be used in wallets, bags and shoes. The process is low-tech
and requires little capital, which makes it ideal for small businesses or for setup in
developing countries (Henning and Jain 2017). The overall findings align with the
Icelandic industry’s commitment towards greater sustainability. The study suggests
that there is a great financial opportunity to use fish skin as a new raw material for
fashion. Countries with both high demand and cultural reliance on fish are potential
candidates for the marketing and sale of fish skin leather. It is highly recommended
that similar case studies are developed in other fish-producing consumer areas.
The case study has also given new insights into the potential for even greater
sustainability actions through the implementation of workshops within higher education fashion. Students have studied how fish by-products are used in the value
chain and how it demonstrates positive waste reduction.
Through examining the strategic management of fish skin, this study has outlined the ability for the aquaculture industry to produce more value from the same
amount of resources. In conclusion, there are economic and environmental benefits
that should be considered in order to develop fish skin further as a new raw material
for fashion.
With collaboration between industry and academia, the rise of fish skin as a new
by-product raw material for fashion will contribute to the sustainable development
and future growth of the aquaculture and fashion industries.
E. Palomino