Development of Edible Film for Sustainable Fish Freezing (SeaFilm)

Short description of the project: SeaFilm was a two-year project funded by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF), aimed at creating a substitute for single-use plastic film in frozen fish preservation.

Tangible results: The project developed a new packaging film based on bioactive and edible algae extracts that help preserve frozen fish and seafood for longer while maintaining quality. The film has been validated to increase the shelf life of frozen salmon, significantly reducing freezer burn. Recent results indicate that it could also increase the shelf life of other aquatic products after thawing "by delaying microbial growth".

Application/ relevance: Aligned with the EU priorities, the project's product help fight plastic pollution, reduce food waste and boost the algae sector.