Background Tuna, a high-value marine species globally, is renowned for its rich content of high-grade proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It also provides omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart health. During processing, substantial by-products are generated, including heads, fins, skin, bones, viscera, and dark meat. These by-products contain a range of bioactive substances.

Progress This article provides a thorough review of recent advancements in tuna processing and byproduct utilization, focusing on two main areas: the application of various preservation techniques for tuna fillets and the development of composite-seasoned canned tuna and diverse fish mince products to improve storage stability and product variety. It also covers the extraction of collagen and its derivatives from tuna skin, the purification of bioactive substances from tuna heads and viscera, the separation of sulfated polysaccharides from tuna bones, and the utilization of tuna blood through various processing technologies to enhance the value-added use of tuna by-products. Currently, the primary forms of tuna products include canned goods and sashimi. Research on processing techniques emphasizes thawing methods, sashimi preservation, the safety of canned tuna, and the quality control of long-stored fish mince products. Tuna by-products are rich in collagen, gelatin, fish oil, sulfated polysaccharides, and other bioactive substances that offer significant health benefits. Advanced technologies, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction and supercritical fluid extraction, have been employed to improve the efficiency of extracting these bioactive substances. These compounds have potential applications across multiple fields, including food, pharmaceuticals,biomedicine, and cosmetics. However, detailed information on the high-value applications of tuna by-products is still limited. Further applied research could uncover additional value from these resources.

Significance  Efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from these by-products is crucial for their comprehensive and effective utilization. This process not only has the potential to enhance the global economy, but also offers consumers a wider range of options for products enriched with bioactive substances.