Secure Fisheries visited colleagues at KMFRI and learned how they turn fish oil into soap, skin into leather for shoes and jackets, and scales into a fine powder that stops wounds from bleeding. Although most of this innovation is in the early and small stages, if commercialized, the products could help remove biowaste and its pollution from the lake while providing a local source of needed materials and supporting small-scale livelihoods. And fish leather is already finding an international market. Newton Owino of Alisam Products has created a green tanning facility—he uses all-natural plant derivatives to tan the leather—near Kisumu. His unique fashion textiles are making their way to the United States and Europe. Scientists and entrepreneurs are leading the way in the circular economy.
