: Indonesia, as a maritime nation, holds considerable potential in the fisheries sector, particularly in the utilization of by-products such as fish skin waste, which remains underexploited. One promising source is the unicorn leatherjacket (Abalistes stellaris), whose skin is rich in collagen and suitable for gelatin production. This study evaluated the potential of A. stellaris skin waste as a gelatin source using two soaking agents: (A) acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and (B) bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi) juice, each applied at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 7%. The extraction process involved soaking, controlled heating, and drying. Results demonstrated that the highest yield (32%) was obtained from treatment A2 (3% CH₃COOH), followed by A1 (27%), A3 (27%), B2 (19%), B3 (17%), and B1 (15%). The best-yielding treatments from each group were further analyzed for gelatin quality. Gelatin from A2 exhibited 10.35% moisture, 3.76% ash, and 67.64% protein, while B2 contained 8.45% moisture, 32.26% ash, and 53.49% protein. These results indicate that gelatin extracted with 3% CH₃COOH more closely meets commercial standards (protein >65%, ash <5%). Variations between treatments were attributed to differences in drying efficiency and demineralization during extraction. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of A. stellaris skin as a sustainable raw material for gelatin production, with strict process control being crucial to ensure high product quality.
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