Fish silage production and use in the Caribbean: Feasibility study for Barbados and Saint Kitts and Nevis
It is estimated that per year in Barbados, 585 tonnes of fish waste are generated at the two main public fish markets, and 936 tonnes of waste are generated at private fish processors across the island. Therefore, Barbados produces an aggregate of 1 521 tonnes of fish waste annually. At present, approximately 90 percent of fish waste and by-products are discarded at the landfill. To produce fish silage on a large scale in Barbados the baseline cost (based on a 90 percent yield rate) is estimated to be USD 265 920, excluding the cost of fish waste and acids. Sales revenues based on competitor prices range from USD 528 485 to USD 2 044 900. During the fish silage demonstration workshop held from 23 to 26 July 2019 in Bridgetown, the cost of small-scale production (100 kg) was estimated to be USD 900 and USD 254 when using the chemical and biological methods, respectively. The existing regulatory framework has the potential to facilitate the production and utilization of fish silage. However, Clearance and permission may have to be institutionalized in order for fish silage to be produced and utilized in, and or as, animal feed. These conclusive findings subsequently prompted FAO to engage in a partnership with the Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute (CARDI), to develop the silage-based feeds and document their effects on the growth performance of select animals. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, by using two methods of calculation, it is estimated that 55 tonnes of waste and approximately 13 tonnes of fish waste are generated annually. Both of these estimates are undervalued. The production of 100 kg of silage per month was estimated to be between USD 424.10 and USD1 145.08. All these costs were perceived to be restrictive to the production of silage. At USD 0.75 per 0.45 kg, revenue from silage production is estimated to be USD 46 296 annually, producing 11 574 kg of silage. However, this price is uncompetitive when compared with current complete feed prices. Feed is subsidized and sold at USD 13.125 per 22.68 kg or USD 0.24 for 1 kg.