Fisheries and aquaculture are becoming a focus of societal concern driven by globalization and increasing environmental degradation, mainly caused by climate change and marine litter. In response to this problem, the European Atlantic Area NEPTUNUS project aims to support and inform about the sustainability of the seafood sector, boosting the transition towards a circular economy through defining eco-innovation approaches and a steady methodology for eco-labelling products. This timely trans-regional European project proposes key corrective actions for positively influencing resource efficiency by addressing a life cycle thinking and involving all stakeholders in decision-making processes, harnessing the water-energy-seafood nexus. This paper presents inter-related objectives, methodologies and cues to action that will potentially meet these challenges that are aligned with many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and European policy frameworks (e.g., Farm to Fork, European Green Deal).

Innovative protein sources, such as single cell protein (SCP) derived from unicellular organism biomass, are emerging as promising solutions to address food scarcity and meet global nutritional needs. This article aims to estimate the environmental impacts of SCP production using biomethane from fish industry waste through an ex-ante Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), focusing on scaling up a lab-scale process. The proposed scenarios include SCP production with biofertilizer recovery (baseline scenario) and the additional valorization of biomethane as grid gas, electricity, and/or heat (modified scenarios). The analysis follows a cradle-to-gate approach, and recovered materials and energy were included by expanding the system boundaries to account for avoided primary production. Results revealed significant differences between laboratory-scale and industrial-scale impacts, with reductions ranging from 60% to 96% across all impact categories when scaled up. Focusing on the industrial scale, the baseline scenario showed the poorest environmental performance, mainly due to biogenic methane emissions from unutilized biogas. In contrast, modified scenarios that incorporated various biomethane utilization pathways achieved substantial reductions across all impact categories. These findings suggest that the optimal system configuration combines the recovery of biomethane, heat, and electricity, underscoring the need for further research into its technical and economic feasibility within the food sector. This research highlights the utility of LCA in evaluating emerging technologies, identifying key environmental challenges, and guiding decision-making at early development stages.

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) supports one of the most valuable small-scale fisheries in Portugal, particularly in the Algarve region, with substantial socioeconomic implications. This species holds significant potential for human consumption due to its low lipid content, favorable fatty acid profile, high-quality protein, and essential microelements. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of octopus specimens landed in two key Algarve fishing areas—Barlavento/Windward (Alvor Harbour) and Sotavento/Leeward (Fuzeta Harbour). We assessed their nutritional value, focusing on protein quality, lipid indexes, trace minerals, and essential vitamins, as well as overall safety and quality. All regulated contaminants and additional potential risks were also evaluated, yielding fully satisfactory safety results. The research was conducted within the framework of the European Sea2See project, which aims to enhance consumer trust and acceptance of sustainably harvested or farmed seafood in Europe. Our findings demonstrate that Algarve octopus is a nutritionally rich seafood product, promoting cardiovascular health and general well-being.