Learn about project DORIS: Turning Fishery Waste into Valuable Bio-Based Resources for a Sustainable Blue Economy
Every year, millions of tonnes of fish processing by-products are discarded or used for low-value applications despite containing valuable proteins, lipids and other bioactive compounds. The NCBR-funded DORIS project aims to transform these waste streams into renewable energy and high-value products through innovative modular and mobile biorefinery technologies. The project has been officially endorsed this year under the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030), recognising its contribution to sustainable blue food systems and the circular economy.
The main objective of DORIS is to develop and validate flexible, scalable biorefinery systems that enable fisheries and aquaculture SMEs to convert by-products into valuable resources. Beyond technology development, the project assesses environmental, economic and societal impacts, explores sustainable financing models for SMEs, and supports policy development to accelerate the adoption of circular bioeconomy solutions across Europe.
DORIS is coordinated by Dr. Ehiaze Ehimen at Atlantic Technological University Sligo, Ireland, with four European research partners: Lodz University of Technology (ICRI-BioM), Poland; Norsk institutt for bioøkonomi (NIBIO), Norway; Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Greece; and Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium.
The Polish team at Lodz University of Technology is led by Dr hab. Vignesh Kumaravel together with Dr hab. Anna Masek and Dr hab. Sebastian Borowski. The research team also includes Dr. Vinitha Udhayabanu Govindarajan and Ms. Ewelina Sobolewska.
The Polish team is optimising a modular two-stage anaerobic digestion process to produce biogas and organic fertilisers while ensuring efficient nutrient recovery. In parallel, environmentally friendly supercritical CO₂ (ScCO₂) extraction and enzymatic processes are being developed to recover high-value fish oils and bioactive compounds without hazardous organic solvents. These complementary technologies maximise resource recovery and demonstrate practical circular economy solutions for fisheries and aquaculture SMEs.
DORIS will enable SMEs to transform fishery waste into renewable energy, biofertilisers and high-value bio-based products, reducing waste while creating new economic opportunities. The project will improve resource efficiency, lower greenhouse gas emissions, support nutrient recycling and strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of Europe's blue economy. Its outcomes will benefit industry, coastal communities and policymakers while advancing research and innovation in marine biotechnology and circular bioeconomy.
Project title: Development of Modular and Mobile By-Product and Wastes Bio-refinery Valorisation Systems and Supporting Structures for Fisheries and Aquaculture SME Industries (DORIS)
· Call: Sustainable Blue Economy Partnership (SBEP) 2nd JTC call
· Duration: July 2025 – June 2028
· Total project budget: EUR 1,347,473
· Funding for Lodz University of Technology (NCBR, Poland): EUR 299,979