Sicilian fishing company Rossi di Mazara is turning waste into value, fully utilising heads of the red prawns that its two trawlers catch in the Mediterranean.
Rossi di Mazara’s two trawlers freeze red prawn catches to -50°C, which retains their nutritional properties, consistency and taste. As well as the prawns themselves, the heads that would otherwise become waste are also flash-frozen and these are used to produce a freeze-dried prawn extract that is rich in astazanthin, a caratenoid with powerful antioxidant properties.
‘We developed our concept of sustainable fishing in 2014, when we met Paolo Bray, founder and director of Friend of the Sea, and he motivated us to develop appropriate waste management practices,’ said Nicola Giacalone, one of the owners of Rossi di Mazara.
‘This red prawn extract is highly appreciated by chefs all over the world,’ he added. ‘Now we are looking for a partner who could help us produce nutritional supplements with astaxanthin from our red prawns.’
