Fish Scale Gel

Biography Design / Material exploration

INTRODUCTION

This project is trying to uncover the untapped potential of fish scales. Transforming these often overlooked natural resources into a specialized gel that promises to revolutionize how I support and enhance plant growth. I tried to explore the possibilities that fish scales offer in the realm of sustainable and efficient plant cultivation.

TEAM

1 Designer

MY ROLE

Designer

TIMELINE

April 2023 - Jul 2023

CLIENT

Individual Project

SKIP TO THE FINAL PROTOTYPE

Skip to Final Prototype

Overview

Background

In the last years, fish products consumption has seen a huge increase following its recognition as a key component of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Currently, the post-catch fish losses represent a huge economic and environmental concern occurring in most fish distribution chains, with large amounts of landed fish lost or discarded between landing and consumption.

It is important to reduce the wastage.

Waste of Fish Scale

Fish scales are one of the wastes generated from the fish processing industries and fish markets in huge quantities during the processing. They are very hard to degrade, if not disposed properly leads to environment pollution and waste management difficulties.

More than 70% of the total fish caught is subjected to further processing

Resulting approximately 30–50% of fish waste

About 5% of them are fish scales

Structure of Fish Scale

Research

Current Situation

Current Main Solutions

Comparison of Current Types of Planting

Fish scales have many of the nutrients that plants need to grow, How to make the fish scales more suitable for plant cultivation?

Insights

Concpet

Forms of fish scales can be made into nutrients

In Conclusion:

I wanted to avoid the disadvantages from the current planting methods by making the fish scales into gel which can be a replacement of soil, water and coco.

Concept

Experiment Design

Wash the fish scales first, and clean them up using acid-base treatment. After drying, heat the fish scales totally. Strain out the fish scales and cool down the rest of the liquid. After cooling down, we can get the fish scale gel. Plant plants and observe for seven days.

Exploration Goal

Test if the fish scale gel can provide enough nutrition for the plants.
If the fish scale gel can avoid most of the disadvantages provided while applying other planting methods.
If there’s any problems that can be avoided and improved.