Resposible: Luísa Maria Pinheiro Valente (PI)
Funding Entity: DGPM (Fundo Azul)
Reference: FA_05_2017_015
Funding Total: 179.243,17 €; ISS: 30.072,00 €
Duration: 06/09/2019-06/03/2022

Objectives and main results:
Sea urchin’s gonads are a highly appreciated gourmet product comparable to Caviar. Gonads market price mainly depends on aroma and colour, which are a reflection of animals’ diet. This project will promote the sustainable valorisation of sea urchin by a) improving gonads quality and marketability trough dietary modulation in captivity, aiming the regular production of high quality and prized gonads; b) adding value to sea urchin gonads applying new preservation and processing strategies for gonad upgrading, bearing in mind the preparation of new foodstuffs such as refrigerated, frozen and canned products, to better satisfy consumers' and markets’ demands; c) to promote the full valorisation of sea urchin under a circular economy approach, by converting sea urchin by-products into high-valued compounds, reducing environmental impact and increasing economic value.