Transforming Marine Waste into Value-Added Resources in the Blue Circular Economy

The transition to a global Circular Economy demands innovative strategies for residue management that extend beyond terrestrial environments, encompassing the vast resources of the marine sector. Improper residue management and contaminated sites, which can lead to negative environmental and public health outcomes, underscore the urgent need for new solutions across all industries. The Blue Circular Economy concept specifically addresses the mounting challenge of marine residues and by-products originating from fisheries, aquaculture, seaweed biomass, and associated processing industries. While these materials often represent a significant environmental burden, they also constitute an underutilized source of organic material with substantial potential for resource recovery. Integrating this theme into the Residue Management in Agroecosystems framework highlights the vital cross-sectoral synergy between coastal resource use and sustainable food system development.The shift from a linear to a Blue Circular Economy is fundamental for securing the health of marine ecosystems, promoting environmental quality, and enhancing the economic viability of related industries. By focusing on the transformation of marine residues into value-added resources, this issue directly tackles global concerns regarding residues, resource depletion, and the need for sustainable practices in food production. The collected contributions will offer essential scientific insights for researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices and significantly contributing to a more resilient and circular global food system.This Special Issue aims to gather cutting-edge research and innovative practices that promote the "Blue Circular Economy" by focusing on the complete valorization cycle of marine-derived residues. Key objectives include:• Valorization Technology: Explore and advance novel technologies and processes for the valorization of marine residues and by-products, moving these materials from liabilities to economic assets.• High-Value Resource Creation: Identify and develop new pathways to transform marine resources (e.g., seafood processing residues, aquaculture sludge, macroalgae biomass) into high-value products, such as functional ingredients, sustainable animal feed components, biopolymers, advanced bio-fertilizers and biostimulants, benefiting the agroecosystem.• Policy and Sustainability Analysis: Analyze the environmental, management, and regulatory implications of these innovations, informing the development of robust policy and regulation that supports the large-scale implementation of sustainable marine residue practices.• Analyzing Systemic Impact: Assessing the environmental, economic, and socio-political impacts of these innovations, particularly focusing on how they minimize marine pollution and improve resource efficiency in coastal and global food production systems. Topic editors: José Luis Garcia-Morales, Germán Tortosa Muñoz, Marciel J Stadnik Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77604/transforming-marine-waste-into-value-added-resources-in-the-blue-circular-economy