Via YouTube: Seafood waste, a global challenge, sees six million tons of fish skins discarded annually, contributing to environmental degradation, and posing a challenge requiring innovation and creativity. In Hawai?i, where 40% of each fish caught is discarded, Conservation International Hawai?i (CI Hawai?i) is creating innovative solutions to reshape the narrative around fish waste, uncovering its untapped potential for supporting local livelihoods, preserving Indigenous practices, and championing sustainable seafood. In partnership with master fish skin tanner and revivalist, Janey Chang, CI Hawai’i hosted Hawaii’s first fish leather workshops in November 2023 which brought together and trained 30 individuals representing cultural practitioners, fishers, artists, leathersmiths, nonprofit leaders, fishery managers, and seafood businesses from Hawai’i, Fiji, and New Caledonia. These workshops demonstrate that fish skins from the Pacific can be transformed into beautiful value-added products such as wallets, jewelry, and keychains and are scaling this solution and building a global community through these impactful exchanges. To get involved or to learn more, reach out to Jhana Young at jyoung@conservation.org.
