Life Cycle Assessment of products from Alaskan salmon processing wastes: Implications of coproduction, intermittent landings, and storage time

This research examines the gate-to-grave life cycle of salmon processing wastes (offal) management options in Sitka, Alaska using Life Cycle Assessment. The bases for comparison are the management of 1 kg of offal and the management of ∼33,000 metric tons of offal generated intermittently throughout the 2010 fishing season in Southeast Alaska. Management options are (a) grind and discharge disposal, (b) two types of fresh processing, and (c) stabilized/ensiled offal processing. It is found that the contributions to eutrophication, acidification, and climate change are consistently reduced by assuming product displacements of meal, oil, and gelatin coproducts as compared to grind and discharge disposal. Further, increasing the allowable storage time by stabilizing the offal feedstock provides additional benefit by reducing the amount of offal ground and discharged.