Canadian seafood processing firm Quinlan Brothers has announced plans to partner with Norwegian biotechnology firm NutriShell on a USD 5 million (EUR 4.3 million) project to turn fish waste into commercially viable products.
The proposed project includes the building of a waste processing facility near an existing Quinlan fish plant in Eastern Newfoundland, which would convert the Canadian processor’s own crab and salmon waste, as well as other finfish residual materials sourced by the company, into fish oil, meal, and other solids to use in aquaculture feed, pet food, and for human consumption, per The Telegram.
Ansnes, Norway-based NutriShell imports crab waste from Norway, France, Denmark, and other E.U. countries due to a “high market demand for product in the aquaculture feed industry,” according to the environmental assessment for the project. The firm produces pet feed and products for human consumption, too.
Due to the growing market, NutriShell is actively seeking new procurement options to supply both the E.U. and North American markets, leading it to partner with Quinlan on the new facility.
Currently, Quinlan and other processing operations in Newfoundland dump most of their waste at sea via a federally issued disposal permit, while a smaller quantity ends up in landfills.
“Both current disposal alternatives are costly for the processors and can harm the environment,” Quinlan Brothers said.
According to the environmental assessment, the new operation would cut the amount of crab waste in Newfoundland by about half. Annual processing output of crab waste could reach 3,000 metric tons (MT) annually at the new facility, and Quinlan also expects to produce about 476 MT of salmon waste viable for a range of products and 200 MT of cod waste from its sister operations.
“Cod oil processing, if it is decided to be a feasible operation, will occur during the cod season and will not interfere with salmon oil processing. If it is determined that there is an overlap of species, cod oil processing and salmon oil processing will occur on two different shifts,” Quinlan said in the assessment.
Quinlan and Nutrishell will be providing capital funding for the project, but Quinlan is also seeking provincial and federal grants and loans.
If plans are approved, construction of the proposed building will start this August and conclude before the start of the April 2027 crab season. It is expected to create eight to 10 full-time positions.
The announcement of the new project came as the Newfoundland and Labrador Standing Fish Price-Setting Panel decided on the minimum price paid to snow crab harvesters in the 2026 season after a contentious negotiation process.
