Hybrid Solar-Sun Drying and Canning: Sustainable Solutions for Marine Fish Preservation and Community Development
| dc.contributor.author | Md. Masud Rana | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-08-05T06:43:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | Fish is an important source of protein and nutrients, but due to its perishable nature, significant postharvest losses occur. Preservation techniques like drying and canning help extend its shelf life. Traditional drying methods are widely used but are often inefficient because of inadequate facilities, leading to spoilage. Additionally, to protect dried fish from pests, processors use harmful chemicals, making the product unsafe for consumption. The conventional drying process is also time-consuming, taking 6-7 days. The Hybrid Solar Dryer (HSD) presents a more sustainable and efficient alternative. It encloses the drying space, which reduces contamination and improves hygiene. With the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, HSD allows real-time monitoring and enhances energy efficiency. This system ensures better product quality, supports continuous drying, and increases the potential for export, offering a safer and more consistent drying process for the fish industry. The marine fish churi (Trichiurus lepturus) and loitta (Harpodon nehereus) were dried using HSD and stored for nutritional, biochemical and microbiological quality analysis throughout the study period (365 days). The findings revealed that fish dried with HSD had higher sensory ratings (8.8 for churi and 8.6 for loitta) and kept the maximum protein content (62.8%) throughout storage. Furthermore, the approach greatly decreased microbial contamination, decreasing the Total Viable Count (TVC) with E. coli. Although canning is a commonly used method for preserving marine fish, no canning industry has been established in Bangladesh so far. In light of this, the present study developed a low-cost, household-level canning procedure along with suitable recipes. Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha), the national fish of Bangladesh was chosen for canning, and its quality was evaluated throughout a year's storage. The canned hilsa (CH) iv remained sensory acceptable for 365 days. The analysis of fatty acid (FA) groups showed that canned and raw hilsa differed significantly (p < 0.05), with a tendency for the sequence of MUFA > PUFA > SFA to decline. Furthermore, the fish were successfully sterilized using the Small-Scale Canning (SSC) technique, which stopped Clostridium botulinum-a frequent bacterial issue in canned fish from growing throughout the storage period. The comparative analysis of livelihood conditions highlights a complex link between socio-economic status and fish production practices. Fishermen with higher education and improved living standards are more inclined to adopt modern preservation methods and access a wider range of marketing options, suggesting a connection between socio-economic factors and production effectiveness. Despite this, many are dissatisfied with their current livelihood and are seeking ways to improve it. This study demonstrates that the nutritional, biochemical, and microbiological integrity of specific marine fish products may be effectively preserved using both the HSD and SSC approaches. Adoption of these techniques might transform Bangladesh's fishing industry, increasing exports and enhancing product quality as well as plays a significant role in coastal community development. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://scholarhub.unimas.my/handle/123456789/1383 | |
| dc.language.iso | English | |
| dc.publisher | UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK | |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Faculty of Resource Science and Technology | |
| dc.subject | Hybrid solar dryer, small-scale canning, fish preservation, sensory evaluation, proximate composition, microbial quality, fatty acid profile | |
| dc.title | Hybrid Solar-Sun Drying and Canning: Sustainable Solutions for Marine Fish Preservation and Community Development | |
| dc.type | PhD |